Bedtime crying

Candra's been crying more lately at bedtime.

She just resists going to bed and sometimes cuddle me like a koala bear.

She cried very badly tonight, although she was already very tired (after having only napped 20mins for the whole day because of the zoo outing). For a while, I thought should could be suffering from a tummy ache because the crying was so bad. I felt bad leaving her in the cot to cry. So I switched on the air con and picked her up. But she continued crying super loudly. I discovered that it was not a tummy ache when I asked her, "Candra, you don't want to sleep huh?" and she nodded her head.

No matter what I said or did, she just did not want to stop crying. When I asked her, "Candra, do you want to be a good girl?", she shook her head vigorously each time I asked her that. Eventually, I cradled her in my arms and prayed aloud, "Oh Lord, Candra's struggling with bedtime, please teach her that there's a time for everything and that she needs to exercise self-control and put herself to rest, in Jesus' name, Amen."

First of all, she stopped crying immediately when I started to pray (as usual) and after the prayer, she stopped altogether. Then I started to talk to her gently, explaining to her that there is a time for everything. A time for bathing, a time for diaper changing, a time for eating, a time for playing and a time for sleeping. This amazing little one kept nodding her head in acknowledgment. And finally, when I asked her, "Candra, do you want to be a good girl?", this time, she nodded and agreed to let me put her down.

Praise the Lord! No crying when I put her down and off she went to sleep on her own.

Two things which I learnt from this:

1. When a child is crying in protest, don't get angry, agitated etc., pray with her and let the Lord teach her.

2. Little children have an amazing sense and sensitivity towards the presence of God and they do know the fear of the Lord.

Although it took me a while to settle her for sleep, but I thought it was all worthwhile. The interaction was precious :)

Thanks be to our God who hears every cry of our hearts! Amen!