This post is a little late. Overdue since my last post, and the included picture is probably older than it should be for a baby that changes everyday. But, I still wanted to talk about a fond memory of a story that was told about me when I was young.

When I was three or four we had bunk beds and I slept on top. Some nights I would not go to sleep unless my dad was standing next to the bed and let me put my hand on top of his head. Even after I was asleep, when he tried to move I would wake up and force him to come back over. I was reminded of this story lately because my daughter has similar behavior. As you can see in this reenactment:

I sometimes have to keep my hand on her all night or she will not sleep at all. (the lighting was better during the day, that's why Emery is not asleep in the picture)

Some might call this arrangement "kharma" or "sweet, sweet justice." Maybe my dad would call it "serves you right." But is there actually an attentive being that consciously endeavors to balance the scales of sleep?

When I was in Japan I heard about the "800 ten thousand gods" of everything. From what I could gather, Shintoism teaches that there is a god in all things: rocks, trees, rivers. Perhaps there is a god of sleeping, and he believes in justice. When I was little I was not faithful to my father's sleep and now I have to pay the price by giving up comfortable sleep now that I am a father. Perhaps there really are gods of other things as well. I once read a letter from a pro basketball player that said he had worshiped the god of basketball by practicing for many years and had been rewarded with good play and wins by his team.

But wait! Before anyone starts going around praising and honoring the god of sleep for his just behavior among the children of men, I want to share my testimony as echoed in 1 Corinthians 8:5-6

"5 For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,)

6 But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him."

The world contains many principles for success and many distractions, each one more seductive than the next. I am convinced that the best way, however, to ensure that we are happy with our families for eternity is to worship Jesus Christ and live His teachings.