Ten days ago I posted this:
The idea of our toddler sleeping until the late hour of 7 in the morning was indeed laughable. I chuckled mid-prayer.
It was not unlike Sarah, who “laughed within herself” at the idea of giving birth in old age–she was all, yeah sure, like that’s gonna happen.
Then the thing she thought was a joke became reality. She was gently reminded, “Is any thing too hard for the Lord?”
Of course I thought it would be nice if Lars slept a little later so I could sleep or–gasp–shower. But his average wake-up time of 6 (it’s 5 on the most punishing days, 6:30 on the most luxurious days), and asking for more seemed downright esurient.
So maybe God, along with me, laughed at Dave’s boldness. Maybe He wanted to reward Dave for dreaming big, or to humble me for lacking faith.
Whatever the divine thought process, this is what happened: Almost every day in the past week and a half, that baby has indeed slept in until 7. Once, even 7 freaking 30. And today he magically slept in ’till 10 (I checked a couple times to make sure he was still breathing), though that was because he came down with something from a kid at the park who was literally coughing in his face.
The thing I thought was a joke became reality.
I had sent many pleas heavenward in the first year of Lars’ life. Please help me know how to get him to stop crying. Please help me get through the next ten minutes of painful breastfeeding. Please, please, please, let him sleep.
In some moments prayers seemed to be answered, others not. But as far as I understand the whole faith thing, sometimes God answers your prayers the way you want, and sometimes He doesn’t, and the trick is to keep believing in His love and His plan whatever and whenever answers come.
These days, I am grateful that answer comes in the form of a 7 a.m. wake-up call with my sweet boy.
spifftacular. 
Oh, this made me cry. Thank heaven (literally) for being able to pray about difficult times with babies. Or, really, difficult times in general. But for real, with babies.
Agreed, Jessi!
Watch out world, Katie may be converting! I have prayed nonstop in the last (how pregnant am I?) 29 weeks for my child to sleep just a little more so that I could get enough sleep to sustain this beautiful life growing inside of me. Thad has laughed in my face every morning as he was up before the sun and his naps got shorter and shorter. I’ll keep praying for sleep, but at this point I think The Lord is giving me a clear sign that I need to focus my prayers elsewhere.
P.S. I’m jealous. (Yep, jealousy one of the seven deadly sins…I’m not expecting my prayers for extra sleep to be answered any time soon.)
That latter part should read “I ENVY you.” So tired I can’t even recall my cardinal sins…I am such a bad Catholic.
Haha, I will ask Dave to pray for you. But no need to convert, sister, Catholic prayers work just as well as Mormon ones! Unless you really want to, in which case you know the VW fam would be thrilled. Anyway, I hope that boy sleeps for you!! I am constantly amazed by you!
Isn’t it funny how sometimes we’re surprised when our prayers are answered in the way we want? It’s like we convince ourselves that our will automatically isn’t God’s, when really that happens only some of the time. I always have to laugh whenever an answer to prayer comes just the way I’d asked, because I shouldn’t be so surprised, especially when it’s something like, “Help me have more patience,” or “take care of my brother in Brazil.” I’m so glad Lars slept in for you! Hallelujah! (PS I spelled hallelujah right the first time, and I feel like I should win a ribbon for that or something.)