Internet Cafe

Wednesday, April 9, 2008

Bless my Interruptions


At 2:30 this morning, I was asleep. Blissfully asleep. Until my little boy Shepherd came running and crying into my bedroom, anyway. “Ingram’s crying, Mommy! He won’t stop! I can’t sleeeeeep!” I turned up the monitor to verify that my one year old son was indeed hysterical.

How I wish I were the type of mom who popped up smiling in the middle of the night, sweetness and light wrapped in a frilly nightgown, never bothered by the intrusion.
Well, I am not that mommy.
I'm more of a crab in a ratty old tanktop.

Since first becoming pregnant I have suffered from insomnia, so I view sleep as a very precious commodity. Often when I am awakened in the middle of the night, I cannot fall back asleep. So wake me up and you will encounter Grouchy with a capital Grrrrr.

I stomped upstairs to assess the situation, frustrated at Shepherd, frustrated at my sleeping husband, and yes, frustrated even at the baby. Frustrated at insomnia. Frustrated at myself for being frustrated, because Hello, I am a mom, this is what I signed up for. Grrrrr.

A bottle and a diaper change later, I climbed back into bed and I said a quick prayer for sleep to return. Suddenly a prayer I read years ago popped into my mind: “Dear God, please bless my interruptions today.”

And then I realized that God and I needed to have one of those Get Over Yourself conversations. Ack, we have so many of them.

The thing is, I get on a mission. I have certain things that I want to accomplish in a given day. Or night, in which Blissful Uninterrupted Slumber is the number one item on my agenda. My happiness, my peace, is so often reliant on checking things off my to-do list. So when Someone – and usually Someone is less than four feet tall – interrupts me, I might get a wee bit bent out of shape.

What if I prayed that prayer, to view my interruptions as blessings, or as opportunities to bless another?

I wonder what impact that would have on my days?

God is the God of order, yet when he walked among us on this earth, Jesus’s days probably looked a lot more like my own - noisy chaos. He got interrupted all the time. Hands forever reaching out for more, throngs of voices constantly demanding service. (If Jesus had had a cell phone, it would have rung nonstop!) The Bible tells us several times that he had to go far away, all by himself, so he could pray. I so get that! Every time Jesus tried to go someplace, he was interrupted. Did he view the Centurion’s servant as an imposition? Or Jairus’ daughter? Did he snap at the hemorrhaging woman because she slowed him down? When the blind man asked to be healed, did he check to see if it was on his to-do list first?

No, Jesus blessed his interruptions. Grace and mercy flowed down on those who got in his way. Oh, that it would be the same for those who get in my way.

Oh, Lord, give me the humility and the grace to seek your to-do list today, and not my own. Remind me to bless my interruptions -
for your glory.
Amen.


You can interrupt me over here:

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Labels: , , ,

21 Comments:

Blogger Colored With Memories said...

Oh wow. Such a good word. I think Lily and Jade have many a blessing coming their way! Kerry

April 8, 2008 at 11:21 PM  
Blogger Denise said...

I enjoyed this, thank you.

April 9, 2008 at 12:21 AM  
Blogger Unknown said...

I remember the good ol' days when I thought that motherhood would not challenge me in my growth very much.

Pffffffffftttttttt.

April 9, 2008 at 1:46 AM  
Blogger Heather said...

Wow ... I really needed to read this today, Missy! You have so eloquently written one of my biggest issues that I deal with daily. Thank you for the perspective you gave - it was helpful!

Blessings!
~Heather :)

April 9, 2008 at 5:42 AM  
Blogger Mocha with Linda said...

Ouch! You have just interrupted MY day with a big fat dose of conviction!

Excellent, excellent words.

April 9, 2008 at 7:36 AM  
Blogger Unknown said...

What a great reminder. And thanks for the new prayer :-)

April 9, 2008 at 7:54 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

oh Missy. God knew I needed to hear this today. I SO do not down-shift well. I was really bad at it yesterday when my day didn't go as planned. Bless my interruptions indeed.

wow. thank you God for this message.

April 9, 2008 at 8:36 AM  
Blogger 2nd Cup of Coffee said...

Will work for B.U.S.: "Blissful, Uninterrupted Sleep" Great post, Missy. I'll try to remember this as I am interrupted at my desk at work today!

April 9, 2008 at 9:06 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

"Bless my interruptions"

That may be the best, smartest, God-trusting thing I have heard in quite a while. Thank you. I am certain I will be pulling THIS statement out of my pocket many times today to remember.

April 9, 2008 at 9:28 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Yikes.. this speaks to me today... innkeeper, taxkeeper... L-rd I lift your name on high
http://fvclassic.wordpress.com/2008/04/08/uplifted-when-i-sing/

gp in montana

April 9, 2008 at 10:24 AM  
Blogger Kelly @ Love Well said...

Home run, Missy. I'm copying and pasting this into my journal so I can continue to ruminate.

If this is what you write without much sleep, I think the insomnia is workin' for ya. I'm just sayin'.

April 9, 2008 at 10:48 AM  
Blogger Jenny said...

Yep, I can identify 100%. What a great reminder. Thanks, Mis.

April 9, 2008 at 10:59 AM  
Blogger windycindy said...

It is ironic how life has worked for me. When my two sons were very young, there were days I thought I would never get through! Now, as they mature, I think, where are my babies?! Thanks,Cindi
jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com

April 9, 2008 at 11:41 AM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Missy,

I bet you didn't know this but, ahem, you wrote this just for me. I even asked people to pray for me to have fewer interruptions. Ouch!


Lord, you have my attention and bless my interruptions. Bless Missy.

Love and hugs, Lynn

April 9, 2008 at 1:15 PM  
Blogger Megan@SortaCrunchy said...

Amen and amen and amen. Yep, I am pretty sure you wrote this just for me, too, friend.

Inspired.

Thank you.

April 10, 2008 at 7:17 AM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Ah, what a great reminder. Thanks.

April 10, 2008 at 7:37 AM  
Blogger Gina Conroy said...

"What if I prayed that prayer, to view my interruptions as blessings, or as opportunities to bless another?"

This is what I have been learning over the past couple of years, but really needed this reminder!

April 10, 2008 at 10:00 AM  
Blogger Beth Cotell said...

What a wonderful post! I need to remember this prayer!

Thank you!

April 10, 2008 at 10:03 AM  
Blogger Julie said...

What a beautiful post.

I remember those days....I remember lying in bed begging Papa to let me sleep through the night and inevitably one of my 5 children would wake up. I too would be frustrated, grumpy, I mean after all they were interrupting the rest my body craved. After a wrestling match with Papa I realized that He wanted me to trust Him even with my sleep. So my prayer became, "I give even my sleep to you, Papa, trusting that that you will restore what my body loses in interrupted sleep."

I am on the other end of the waking up in the night. Mine is called peri-menopause....and hot flashes.

I sympathize with you yet know Papa will meet you.

What a beautiful post.
Love,
Julie

April 10, 2008 at 12:11 PM  
Blogger Praise and Coffee said...

Awesome post Missy!
I can soooo relate!

Hugs,
Sue

April 10, 2008 at 4:22 PM  
Blogger lori said...

Learning to EMBRACE the interruptions is what we ALL need be reminded of!!

What wise words!!
other moms in "ratty old tank tops" joining you in embracing those daily interruptions...embracing them like Christ!!

thank you!!
it's been a blessing!
lori

April 10, 2008 at 6:51 PM  

Post a Comment

It is good to hear from you... thank you so very much for leaving a note on the table. That makes us smile!

Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]

<< Home