A childhood prayer begins —“Now I lay me down to sleep…”; it can be a very enticing thought. After a hard day’s work a good night’s sleep beckons. Certainly on a cool winter’s night the thought of pulling up a warm blanket and, cocoon-like, curling up for a good night’s sleep is seductive. Another enticing Siren call is an afternoon nap. I grew up on a “one-horse-farm” (actually, a one-mule farm). I remember my dad coming in from the field at noon for dinner. After a hearty meal he would lie down on the cool hallway floor and take a nap—before he and Mac-the-mule returned to the field. I regret to say, I often interrupted that nap by crawling all over him, and, very likely bouncing on his tummy as only a two-year-old can. The nap was a vital part of his workday. It rejuvenated him for the balance of the day.
According to National Institutes of Health (NIH), …sleep deprivation is not only unhealthy, it can be downright dangerous: Sleep deficiency can interfere with work, school, driving, and social functioning. You might have trouble learning, focusing, and reacting. Also, you might find it hard to judge other people’s emotions and reactions. Sleep deficiency also can make you feel frustrated, cranky, or worried in social situations.
During college one cold night, after finishing one of my part-time jobs, I lumbered nearly frozen into my dormitory room. The warm room, and the old army blanket enshrouded me in coma-like sleep. I was so deeply asleep that I slept through a crucial job appointment the next morning. It nearly cost my job. Fortunately no one was endangered by my sudden surge of narcolepsy. Loss of sleep can be catastrophic for many endeavors; vehicle drivers, machine operators, parenting, to name a few—yes, parenting. An adult in charge of a small child—especially around water (bathtub, wading pool, beach). It takes fewer than twenty (20) seconds for a small child to drown!
A report from The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute says; Sleep deficiency can cause problems with learning, focusing, and reacting. You may have trouble making decisions, solving problems, remembering things, managing your emotions and behavior, and coping with change. You may take longer to finish tasks, have a slower reaction time, and make more mistakes.
I have, as apparently a large number of Americans, deprived the body, mind, and, spirit of essential sleep. The CDC reported that over thirty percent of adults aged 18 and older suffer from lack of sleep. Going further, over forty percent of all adults also experience serious lack of sleep. Wouldn’t you think sensible adults would recognize the great joy of sleep, not to mention hindering healthy living? The Psalmist points out how irrational it is for us so to fill our lives with busyness that we loose the gift God gives us all—Sleep. It is a gift! don’t miss it!
©Copyright Willis H. Moore 2024