“He shall feed His flock like a shepherd; He shall gather the lambs in His arms and carry them in His bosom and shall gently lead those that are with young.”

My little boy hates going to bed. Almost since the day he was born, naptime has been an ever-changing scene of lullabies and rockings and swayings and shushings. Sometimes with all the lights on, sometimes with all the lights off. Sometimes when he’s only been up for an hour, sometimes when he’s been up for three. What worked last week doesn’t necessarily work this week.

These days he goes to sleep to the tune of “Jesus Loves Me” and “The Birds Upon the Treetops” while I pace the floor with him, and it’s almost like clockwork the way he fights it kicking and screaming and then suddenly is done and quietly sucks his binky till his eyelids fall shut. Then I sit in the rocker with him and feel the heavy breaths that move him in my arms and look down at his relaxed face and his little open mouth and think of how many more times I’ll have to do this . . . and how many more times I’ll wish I could. ...continue reading →