It's 5:01 AM, Do You Know Where Your Faith Is?

My puppy has possibly been named the wrong name. I am beginning to think that his name should have been more biblical in nature. Not that his behavior is currently anywhere holy right now, but he is becoming a constant supply of lessons in the realm of biblical truth. Perhaps he should have been a Paul or an Abraham or a Jonah! Perhaps HB, stands for more than Harlan Boy - perhaps it stand for Holy Bible!!!

This weekend was a particularly trying one in the area of sleep at my house. We made the decision to keep HB at home and not take him to the fireworks extravaganza this year. Our thoughts were that although he would enjoy the people watching, the eventual end of the night, fireworks display would possible give his little ten week old heart an attack!!

Therefore, Mr. HB was left in his kennel while we were gone. Of course, it was close to 11:00 PM when we got home, and apparently he had slept a major portion of the time we were gone.

We were tired and were just not thinking, but my hubby decided that after a walk, surely HB would be ready to go right back to sleep. Please keep in mind that it has been over 14 years since we raised a puppy. It has also been almost 4 years since we had a baby anything in the house and we had forgotten that babies can get their days and nights mixed up, very easily.

That is what happened to poor HB - he was so mixed up. After his walk, we put him in the kennel, and went to bed. Sure enough, about 30 minutes later, the howling began. I quickly got up to stop it, because we certainly didn't want Hannah to be awakened. It was 12:30 AM. I sat up with our sweet, adorable yellow pup until 2:00 AM. He played, he ate, he drank, he chewed, me and his toys! He barked every time I used the remote control -- it was truly a trying experience. At 2 AM, my husband did something that surprised me so - I almost cried. He suddenly appeared in the family room, dressed with leash in hand. He had come to take the puppy for a walk, to help tire him out. And walk they did - for an hour. Over eighteen years, my hubby has given me flowers, jewelry, and vacations, but that was truly one of the best gifts he has ever given. I went back to sleep and after his walk, so did HB. Of course, he and Hannah were both up and awake WAY too early on Saturday -think 6:30 AM. But I convinced them to both go back to sleep and we all slept until around 9:00 AM. It was pretty great.

We took HB with us on all of the rest of the weekend excursions, just to avoid that day/night mix up again. Well, all with the exception of Sunday church - he is somewhat of a biblical scholar, but I am certain church is not the place for him. After church and lunch, we came home with hopes of a nice nap and then some afternoon fun. Hubs and Hannah went right to sleep. HB and I sat up - turns out, he is afraid of thunder and guess what we had ALL afternoon? Thunderstorms!!

Poor HB - he went a little bonkers -- and I spent all afternoon trying to keep him quiet so everyone else could enjoy the nice napping conditions. Really, what is better than a Sunday afternoon nap, with thunder and rain coming down...nothing!!

As you might guess, last night, when bedtime finally rolled around, I was a little exhausted. Ready for a nice night's sleep in my comfy bed. Child got to bed relatively early, puppy went to sleep and hubby placed him in his kennel and we were off to sleepytown at a really decent hour for this household.

Forty minutes later, Hannah was up from a bad dream. I crawled in bed with her to ease her back to sleep and then just as she was dozing away, Mr. HB woke up and decided he needed a potty break. Once back inside, he was a bit awake, so I spent about thirty minutes scratching his belly to get him calmed back down. As the 12:30 AM mark rolled around, I was finally getting him back in his kennel and heading for bed, once again, myself.

Now, remember, I said there was a biblical truth in this blog post somewhere, and here it is - finally. On my way to bed, I quickly said a prayer and asked God to please just let HB sleep until at least 5:00 AM. We would be up then anyway as that is when hubby leaves for work, so I felt like if I got just those precious few hours of sleep, all would be okay. Plus, hubby had to go to work today - he didn't need the interruption of sleep either.

So, after placing my plea for a few hours of sleep, I got into bed and slept. I woke up at 4:30 AM to get breakfast ready. No stirs from the kennel, and I was feeling hopeful that I would be able to return to bed when hubby left for work, for a few more hours of sleep before the baby girl woke up. Hubby ate breakfast and as 5:00 AM was rolling around, I was beginning to inwardly thank God for answering my prayer.

Then, 5:01 AM happened.

Like a timer had gone off in his little body, HB woke up, barked and declared himself ready for the world.

I couldn't complain - God had heard and answered the prayer. We had silence from 12:30 AM - 5:00 AM. Then it struck me. I had asked for the minimum. I had short-changed myself and keep our great big God in a tiny box. He is willing and ABLE to give us all we desire. Are we just not willing to ask for it? If he could keep HB from barking until 5:01 AM, imagine, I could have asked that HB sleep until 9:00 AM - ensuring an even more quality rest for me and my family. I was only thinking about the minimum amount I needed.

At 5:01 AM, God showed me that He can do what I ask. I just have to truly believe it, and then ask for what is really needed. It was a neat lesson to be reminded of and to contemplate as I start my day. What other areas of my life am I holding back on asking God for help in? My housework, my health, my marriage, my mothering? If the God of the universe, maker of heaven and earth can keep a dog silent and give me a few hours of sleep - surely He has the answers for the bigger questions in life, and the ability to provide all my needs and even my wants.

If nothing else, I hope this is a reminder to you, bloggity readers, that our God is a BIG God. He can do the impossible, He can make your life so much richer and fuller and meaningful. Take the time to ask Him and don't forget to ask BIG!

"Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever, Amen." Ephesians 3:20

Living Happily Ever After,
Beverly