Bad dreams....

I had a bed guest last night as Reese came stumbling in my room crying "Mommy, Mommy I had a bad dream." She didn't hesitate. She didn't stumble around the house in the dark looking for where I might be. She knew I was in my room, in my bed and she came straight to me. She cried my name as she walked so that I might hear her on the way. Now being that I sleep in bed heaven I only heard her when she was at my doorway but I sat up in bed and when she got to the edge of the bed I held out my arms and hugged her. I snuggled her into my bed and laid there with my arms wrapped around her. I didn't question her about the bad dream. I didn't scold her for having a bad dream. I didn't tell her to go back and face it alone and once she wasn't afraid anymore to come back then. I didn't tell her to stop crying and "man up" and deal with it. I simply extended to her the love I have for my child without condition without hesitation.

So at 3 am when I woke up to find myself still holding her asleep I realized she needed to go back to her room. I picked her up and walked her back to her room. As I came back to my bed I realized that's it. That is the metaphor of Christ's love for us.

He says just come as we are when our "dreams are good, when our dreams are bad" just come crying "Abba Father" and He is there. No questions he just holds us and loves us. No need to measure up to some preconceived notion we have of ourselves before we can go to Him. He just wants us right now, right in the middle of the bad dreams when we are weak and alone He wants to hold us as His child. He wants to wrap His arms around us and for us to never struggle to get away. He wants us to find rest in Him.

Think about it. Even as Reese gets older what if she'd been out too late, broke her curfew and comes home drunk and beat up (which will probably NEVER happen if you know Reese :), but I'm just saying. As she stumbles in the door as I sit up on the couch waiting for her (thanks Mom :). She's broken major house rules. She's disappointed me. She needs correction and guidance BUT my first response will be a sigh of relief that  she's home safely. That in spite of her circumstance she came home. She came back to me. I will open my arms and hold her. My love will overshadow her need to be corrected and judged at that moment, I will just be glad she is safe and sound. We may talk about thing the choices she made and the consequences of her actions in the AM but at that moment my love will abound.

The last month or so the story of the Prodigal Son keeps being a repeated part of my Bible reading and my thoughts. It's in Luke chapter 15:11-32. The line that keeps repeating in my head is verse 20 "... but while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son and threw his arms around him."

That's it. That simple. That basic. Confess with your lips and believe in her your heart that Jesus Christ is the risen savior, crucified, risen and coming again as it is written. And then run to Him without shame, fear, apprehension, without trying to live up to some worldly standard... He awaits to pour out His love and grace.

He says "Come to me all who are week and burdened, and I will live you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Matthew 111:28

What if "I will dance, I will sing, I'll be mad for MY King!" became your lifestyle. What might you experience surrounded by His love and grace that you've never known before?

Again I double dog dare you to try. What if IT changed your life?