Nighttime conversations with children and God

[Michie]

The story of God calling out to Samuel when he’s sleeping always makes me think of parenting a young child in the middle of the night.

Samuel keeps getting out of bed to come to Eli, who’s fast asleep, to ask why he’s calling for him. Again and again, Eli tells him he’s not calling him and to go back to bed.

It reminds me of one of my favorite children’s books, Bedtime for Frances, where Frances keeps coming to her parents’ room with concerns and requests when she is supposed to be asleep. Every parent has been Frances’ father, trying to be patient through the exhaustion, wondering whether the child will ever stop asking for a drink or another kiss and actually rest.


The wonder of the Bible reading might be that — even though he’s tired and half-asleep — Eli realizes that God is calling Samuel and tells him how to respond the next time he hears the voice. Eli tells Samuel to say, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.”

Finally, Samuel goes back to bed, and the next time he is awakened, he follows Eli’s instructions and speaks with God directly.

Eli probably doesn’t get enough credit for being able to think straight and with the clarity of faith in the middle of the night. Parents know how hard it is to think clearly at that hour.


I remember when our children reached a certain age, it felt like an incredible gift to get into bed knowing you probably would get to sleep until the morning.

Happy signs​

Continued below.

Nighttime conversations with children and God

The story of God calling out to Samuel when he’s sleeping can make us think of parenting a young child in the middle of the night. Samuel keeps getting out of bed to come to Eli, who's fast asleep, to ask why he's calling for him. Again and again, Eli tells him he's not calling him and to go...

www.oursundayvisitor.com

 

[moonbeam]

The story of God calling out to Samuel when he’s sleeping always makes me think of parenting a young child in the middle of the night.

Samuel keeps getting out of bed to come to Eli, who’s fast asleep, to ask why he’s calling for him. Again and again, Eli tells him he’s not calling him and to go back to bed.

It reminds me of one of my favorite children’s books, Bedtime for Frances, where Frances keeps coming to her parents’ room with concerns and requests when she is supposed to be asleep. Every parent has been Frances’ father, trying to be patient through the exhaustion, wondering whether the child will ever stop asking for a drink or another kiss and actually rest.


The wonder of the Bible reading might be that — even though he’s tired and half-asleep — Eli realizes that God is calling Samuel and tells him how to respond the next time he hears the voice. Eli tells Samuel to say, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.”

Finally, Samuel goes back to bed, and the next time he is awakened, he follows Eli’s instructions and speaks with God directly.

Eli probably doesn’t get enough credit for being able to think straight and with the clarity of faith in the middle of the night. Parents know how hard it is to think clearly at that hour.


I remember when our children reached a certain age, it felt like an incredible gift to get into bed knowing you probably would get to sleep until the morning.

Happy signs​

Continued below.

Nighttime conversations with children and God

The story of God calling out to Samuel when he’s sleeping can make us think of parenting a young child in the middle of the night. Samuel keeps getting out of bed to come to Eli, who's fast asleep, to ask why he's calling for him. Again and again, Eli tells him he's not calling him and to go...

www.oursundayvisitor.com

What a great post... and I haven't even opened up the link yet - but I will definitely get to that... I felt prompted to respond immediately.

As I was reading, I had an evocative recollection of a beautiful scene in this particular film... it's entitled "Wit."

I'm making the assumption that you are a female, regardless, I am certain you will be rewarded by watching this beautiful, intense, and gorgeous story of the rich life experience of a woman, and the wonder of someone taking the time to read a children's story book to you, at a time when you most need that profound simplicity. - Enjoy.



Wit is a 2001 American television drama film directed by Mike Nichols. The teleplay by Nichols and Emma Thompson is based on the 1999 Pulitzer Prize-winning play of the same title by Margaret Edson.

The film was shown at the Berlin International Film Festival on February 9, 2001 before being broadcast by HBO on March 24. It was shown at the Edinburgh Film Festival and the Warsaw Film Festival later in the year.

Plot​

Vivian Bearing is a professor of English literature known for her intense knowledge of metaphysical poetry, especially the Holy Sonnets of John Donne. Her life takes a turn when she is diagnosed with metastatic Stage IV ovarian cancer. Oncologist Harvey Kelekian prescribes various chemotherapy treatments to treat her disease, and as she suffers through the various side-effects (such as fever, chills, vomiting, and abdominal pain), she attempts to put everything in perspective. The story periodically flashes back to previous moments in her life, including her childhood, her graduate school studies, and her career prior to her diagnosis. During the course of the film, she continually breaks the fourth wall by looking into the camera and expressing her feelings.