Awake all night

Functioning during the day without enough sleep is not as difficult as laying in bed awake all night trying to get some sleep. There are always things to do around the house but really I'd prefer to sleep at night. So doing chores is not an option.

I was talking to a dear lady friend, Marion. Marion is 88 years old with four children, 16 grand children, 32 great grand children, and five great great grand children. She is a very interesting woman. I asked her how she remembers all their names. She told me she lays in bed at night, praying for each one of them by name. It beats counting sheep. So I decided to pray for people on nights when I can't sleep. I pray, starting with family members, friends, neighbours, and colleagues, and then for people on the news, until I eventually fall asleep. When I get up in the morning I feel energized and ready for the day. What a productive way to use time that I would otherwise have wasted!

Psalm 127: 1 - 2
Unless the LORD builds the house,
         They labor in vain who build it;
         Unless the LORD guards the city,
         The watchman stays awake in vain. 
It is vain for you to rise up early,
         To sit up late,
         To eat the bread of sorrows;
         For so He gives His beloved sleep.