This past Friday was a Christmas Day to remember. Santa delivered broken records all over the country. Nashville went “suns out guns out” in record-breaking style with 75-degree heat. The annual Christmas Day NBA game saw Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors beat Lebron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers to continue the best start in NBA history at 28-1.
Last, but not least, Star Wars fans helped The Force Awakens sell 1 Billion dollars in tickets quicker than any movie ever.
I don’t know what records you are tracking right now, but I know we all have a chance to be record breakers this year. Christmas Day 2015 reminded me of a record I need to break.
It is a record inspired by my eight-year-old daughter Gracelyn.
Gracelyn has a really hard time falling asleep most nights. Despite our regular routine of reading, singing, and praying before bedtime, she is usually tossing and turning long after our other three kiddos have nodded off.
She also has some innate alarm that tells her to go get daddy when I am finally winding down from all the adventures of the day.
About the time my smiles have run out of battery, my patience has lost its signal, and I am ready to put myself on airplane mode. I hear the shuffle of feet coming down the hall, and I know what her gentle voice is going to say,
“Daddy will you come and lay in my bed with me?”
Now there are days when “Yes” comes out of my mouth quickly, easily, and joyfully, but there are other days also. There are days when tiredness wins, the battery is too low, the selfishness is too high, and I simply say, “Not tonight honey.”
Sometimes she even asks again, “Please daddy?” I say “I am sorry honey, I will tomorrow.”
Her little shoulders slump a bit and she heads back to bed. I lay down in my bed knowing that stress, or anxiety, or the enemy won that round. It never feels good.
Have you been there?
I know these are the moments when shame and self contempt start to whisper failure, poser, loser, but that is not the voice of Love. This week the voice of Love took me to the words of Paul in Galatians Chapter six which says,
“So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.”
We all get tired, but Love will carry you. Love never fails. I know you are tired, but don’t give up.
I am going to set a record this year. I have never kept track of how many times I laid down next to my sweet girl to rub her head, and sing her to sleep, but this year I will.
I know these “Yes’s” will reap a harvest of blessing if I don’t give up.
Wait I think I hear feet. Sorry, but I have to go, I have a record to break. It’s 8:31pm and a voice just said, “Daddy, will you come and lay in my bed with me?”
1-Take some time and prayerfully consider what record you want to break this coming year.
2-Leave a comment or text me (503-851-3139) the record you want to break.