I slept in today- a whole 9 and 1/2 hours of rest last night! I needed it and I am so thankful for it. But as I woke up, got my coffee and Bible and ventured to the porch for some Jesus time it occurred to me what a privilege it is to be able to sleep like that. I was struck with the realization that it takes a lot of peace and calm to be able to keep sleeping on and on. I'm sure that there are millions of people around the world and even some right here in Troup that couldn't imagine the possibility. If I was not confident that my family was safe I would never be able to sleep peacefully. And what if I didn't know where we would lay down tomorrow night or what I would feed them for breakfast or if we would be able to stay warm enough. All these situations would require so much of my attention that my mind would not know any degree of peace and sleep would evade me. I know nothing of hunger, thirst, real fear, poverty or uncertainty. I think I'm hungry when I skip lunch because I cannot stomach another school hamburger, which is free I made add since I teach Head Start, and I have to wait an hour until I can run home and get something else. I think I'm thirsty when I go for a run to work off the extra calories I had the luxury of indulging on and we are out of bottled water. I think I am afraid when my middle daughter passes out even though we have almost instant medical help at our fingers tips. I think things are tight financially when I cannot run to the store for chocolate chips whenever I want or I can't get the girls new clothes and shoes that they "need". I think things are uncertain when I am not sure how an observation by my principal is going to go the next day at school or I'm not seeing a twelve month plan on how God will grow a new church and in turn provide for my family in a guaranteed consistent way. So, I say all that to say: I am extremely spoiled. I am in no way wealthy by American standards, but compared to the world I have so much more than the average. Not only that but I have something money cannot buy. I have hope. If something tragic were to happen and I no longer had the peace it takes to sleep late in comfort I would have hope that things would get better and more peaceful days were on the horizon. I know that God loves me and will provide for my needs and I can be confident in this because He has proven that is true time and time again. But what if I didn't have a relationship with Him? I would then know something worse than hunger or thirst, I would know hopelessness. I think it's possible to endure great hardships as long as there is something to look forward to or to have confidence in outside of the current situation, but without that hope even a full belly wouldn't provide much peace. So maybe the absence of fear,uncertainty and poverty are not what enables me to sleep late but the presence of my Savior. If all those other comforts were stripped away I would know that this life is temporary and what comes after this is perfect, that's a hope that can't even be explained. So again I say: I am EXTREMELY SPOILED!
I am convenced that this spoiling does not come without responsibility, I have so that I can share. I have been given much by worldly standards and should never take that for granted or become entitled, thinking I somehow deserve this life I am blessed with. I am no better than the mother that is up all night worrying about feeding her kids or worse protecting them from people who mean them harm. More importantly I have been given much spiritually as well. Some one took the time to love me enough to share Jesus with me and give me the hope that outlasts everything. I am no more worthy of that hope than the woman down the street who can't even think about the possibility that better things are coming for her because today is too overwhelming and no on has helped her see otherwise. I pray that I will never take any of this for granted or let my mind wonder to how much more I think I need or deserve. If I can sleep late in peace, confidence and hope then I better be using all the energy I have while I am awake to pass what I have on to others!
"Yet , my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from Him. Truly He is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I will not be shaken." Psalms 62:5-6
