Five days ago, we moved JellyBean into a “big girl bed.” It has not gone well. Every night is a struggle to make her go to sleep. She prefers to run around the room and keep her sister awake. I am not getting enough sleep. I am six-months pregnant, and have survived until now by naps. We have given up naps completely, because I cannot go through this more than once a day. My vision has taken on the fuzzy edges and extra bold contrasts of the sleep-deprived eyes and brain. I don’t like anybody or anything much right now.
I am longing for sleep, for restful long nights where no one demands anything from me, and I know this is only going to get worse, not better. It is simply the worst thing about having a baby. I am desperate for sleep, and the longer I have to wait for it, the meaner I get. I am bitter. I am angry.
Many Jews of Jesus’ day were longing for freedom and relief from the Romans. Whatever its laudable achievements of technology and governmental efficiency, the Roman Empire was still basically a bully. The Jews were second-class in their own homeland, subject to violence and oppressive taxes and a hundred other things.
Two of these people longing for relief were frequently in the temple in Jerusalem. Simeon was a man to whom God had promised that he would live long enough to see the Messiah. He showed up at the temple when Jesus’ family came to make the offering for a firstborn son, and he took the boy in his arms, and praised God saying,
- Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,
you now dismiss your servant in peace.
For my eyes have seen your salvation,
which you have prepared in the sight of all people,
a light for revelation to the Gentiles
and for glory to your people Israel.
Then they met an old woman named Anna. She had been widowed young after only seven years of marriage, and spent the rest of her life at the temple until she was eighty-four. She met the child and praised God for him, and told the news of his birth to everyone waiting for the liberation of Jerusalem.
I have never longed for something for decades, and I do not know how I could manage it without growing bitter and hopeless. Anna and Simeon were somehow still hopeful, despite many years of waiting. God rewarded their faithfulness and gave them the sight of the child they had been longing for.
The church today still longs for the same thing. Jesus came the first time to offer us peace between the soul and God. We believe that when he comes again, the peace he brings will include a new heaven and a new earth, where there will be no more tears or suffering and death itself shall die.
May we remember this Christmas season the longing and joy of Anna and Simeon, and say with the Church through the ages, Maranatha Come, Lord. Come quickly.
Don’t know if this will work for you… when we moved ds to bed he was fine at night, but had issues with naps.
For a couple of days I spent three hours sitting on his bed just laying him down every time he sat up, no talking, no eye contact.
Next day sat outside his room on a chair, then in the hallway, then in my room…
Eventually he got the message that his very pregnant mother was serious about him sleeping during the day still.
Hope you work something out.
i know just how you feel. we just took the passy away from my son and i’m kind of kicking myself. i’m not 6 months pregnant though. poor you!
i’m new to your blog and really enjoying your insightful posts.
Beautiful post.
I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to quote Monty Python’s People’s Front of Judea–
“All right… all right… but apart from better sanitation, and medicine, and education, and irrigation, and public health, and roads, and a freshwater system, and baths, and public order… what have the Romans done for us?”
P.S. Lovely post. Reminds me that patience is a virtue, and I could use a little more of said virtue.