Fearful Nights

Why do children fear coming into their parents bedroom when they cannot sleep? Why would they rather pull sheets up over their heads and pray for sleep to come, instead of finding comfort from the ones the Lord has given for their comfort? Seth and I were asking ourselves these questions after finding out that Adalie had spent a night fearful and wakeful. We tried to encourage her that she could always come to mommy and daddy at night if she were afraid again. And then Seth added, "We'll let you stay up and have icecream and watch a movie!" As soon as this came out of his mouth, I stated my concerns about this idea as Adalie headed off to inform her sisters of this new information. Well, as you would guess, the next evening, both Adalie and Kylia stood in front of us ready for fun! We sent them back to bed with a few revisions to this plan and thankfully it worked! We didn't hear from any of them for months. Last night however, after the girls had been in bed for two hours, Adalie came down with a BIG smile on her face unable to sleep. With all the love in his heart daddy asked, "Do you want to watch a movie and eat some icecream?" Adalie beamed! Throughout the next 45 minutes she exclaimed again and again, "This is the best night ever!" When the movie ended she went straight to bed and we didn't hear from her till morning. All the next day, as she looked at me with a twinkle in her eye she declared again, "Wasn't that the best night ever mom?!!"