Blue Sheets

This morning I had a little brainstorm related to our sons' shared bedroom. They've shared a room since Josh was born, with the exception of a 6-month period when Isaac had his own room during a temporary living situation a couple years ago. Isaac, now a 6th grader, understandably wants to have his own room. He likes to read before bed and it disturbs Josh, age 7, who goes to sleep earlier and becomes quite adamant about turning the light off when he's ready for sleep. The tension was mounting and a solution was needed.

So my solution was a pvc-pipe frame with a cover made to fit. I was envisioning this cool tent-like thing that would not only solve the bedtime light issue but would be pretty cool in the eyes of a 12 year old. I could make the cover. The only problem was the small matter of actually building the frame. I'm slowly coming to the conclusion that I probably shouldn't plunge into projects that involve measuring and power tools. Much frustration happens when I do.

I showed Paul my sketch this morning, and I wonder now if it might've been right before he was going to head over to the church to talk through his message in preparation for tomorrow. Anyway, he looked, he saw, he got quiet...walked into the boys' room and came up with another solution. Instead of spending $150 on pvc pipe and lumber, he suggested putting in a couple eye-hooks, string a wire across the room and drape a sheet or something over to divide the room. Hmmm...it didn't conjure up the same cool tent-over-the-bed image, but since beggars can't be choosers I went with it.

I wasn't expecting the project to be undertaken today, but within an hour, the hooks were in and the wire was up. I found a couple of blue sheets that would work. I have to admit that inside I was thinking that it would be a tad tacky-looking -- two blue sheets, not the same color. Not really my decorating style. For a few moments I thought it would be nice to not have to divide a bedroom with a sheet. That I wished the boys could have their own rooms done up just how they'd like them. Yet at the same time I'm glad that they still share a room because I think it's healthier for the boys to share space and learn to work their stuff out.

OK, so I got the sheets up and as I was pinning them in place, Isaac walked into the room. His face just lit up. He was so happy about those crazy blue sheets and just simply said, "I have my own space!"

It warmed my heart so see his thankfulness for simplicity. There were no comments about it looking tacky or wishing he had a real room of his own. As I basted the sheets in place, he said from his bed on the other side of the curtain, "Thanks for doing this."

So. Turns out that what was really needed wasn't something expensive and elaborate as my solution would've been. Two eye hooks, wire and a couple of sheets did the job. He's happy for his privacy, and I'm happy that I've still got him close by.

P.S. The Snuggie has been worn and found to be most snug. I got a smug (not snug) look from Paul as he said, "See, I knew you'd use it." :-)

Philippians 2:13

Two nights ago as I was going to sleep, a verse came to mind as I was laying there thinking. "For it is God who works in you to will and act according to His good purpose." I hadn't been in Philippians - it had been awhile since I'd spent any time on that one. But it came to mind and brought with it peace as its truth blanketed my soul.

Then Sunday morning it was back - I was thankful that God helped me remember what I had been thinking about the night before in that just-before-sleep, groggy state of mind. And then it showed up again, unbeknownst to me, in my husband's message that day in church. Hmmm, God, are you telling me something here?

Today in the quiet of the morning I was back to the same verse. It's got my attention now. What stood out was that He works in us to "will" and "act" according to his good purposes. Interesting that it doesn't say to "feel" and "agree with" his good purposes. But rather, engage the will in obedience first and let the feelings follow.

God's purpose boils down to loving. Loving Him, loving others. As that marks my life more and more, I become conformed to the image of Jesus. That's expressed in lots of ways - sometimes active doing, other times restraint. But it's a hopeful thing that those of us in His body are the recipients of His steady, faithful work.

As we live out of Truth, the person of Truth Himself, His joy becomes ours and His purposes are accomplished in and through our lives.

Lord, let it be.