Jordan - Proverbs 12

Its funny how things work out.  About 30 minutes ago, David was having a rough time going to sleep and I was having a rough time thinking of something to write about.  This morning, while reading chapter 12, I highlighted v25: "Anxiety weighs down the human heart, but a good word cheers it up."  When David got up for the second time this evening, he was in hysterics.

About 4 months ago, David got into a habit of making bedtime a battle for a couple weeks.  He would get up and start crying out for mommy or daddy because he needed a diaper change, or needed to use the bathroom, or needed a glass of water.  We appeased him the first couple of times (with James a newborn, we were trying to be more lenient with him) and that didn't work too well.  Finally, after enough battles and a number of conversations, he got back into his normal routine of going to bed without a sound.

Last night, David was up a couple times at bedtime and even woke up at 2am.  Tonight, it started again.  Most likely, daylight savings time is the culprit so its not like Erin and I are ready to kiss our nights good-bye, but we know how quickly something turns into a habit!  Erin and I looked at eachother the second time he woke up and remembered the joys of 4 months ago.  Since Erin went up the first time, I took the second time.  The poor boy had worked himself up so quickly that I just picked him up and held him for a few minutes until he could breath normally.  I started telling him that it was time for bed and he needed to calm down.  That didn't work.  We sat down and verse 25 popped into my head.  I reminded him about earlier in the evening we had acted silly and played with finger puppets and walked them all around the living room.  And then I told him about the little dinosaurs on his pajamas and how they couldn't go to sleep until he fell asleep.  He started smiling a little bit.  I laid him down and kissed him good night.  I haven't heard a peep in a half hour.

Thanks for the "good word" Proverbs!