Our days in life with three legs

Up early this a.m. to get started on my devotions when I saw Erin. Erin is our outdoor cat. She is the grand-daughter of the cat some one left at our house years ago. We name them all, and developedrelationships with them all...all that is except Erin.  She was a loner. Somewhere along the line she broke her paw. Since she didn't want us to love her she wouldn't let anyone near. It healed broken. She is a three legged cat: a very speedy three legged cat I might say. Last year her mother died. Suddenly she became very interested in relationships; with us, the dogs, the ducks, the pillow in the shop or the horses. She is lonely.
I watched as she limped across the yard today and it reminded me of  my life.  I have hurt myself in many ways and because I didn't want anyone to help me, I healed broken. Actually, having a broken leg has brought out other gifts in Erin just as being broken has brought out other things God wanted me to learn about in myself.
Being broken is normal...why we think normal is perfect I will never know. Jesus was perfect. He was abnormal.  I am broken. That is normal. I limp through life doing better than I might have done without being broken because I am aware of what broken means.  I am aware that God needs to be a part of my life so my limp is an asset not a liability. When I find myself doing and saying things from my broken perspective, I need to be reminded that God presence in my life restores my brokenness.  Being broken reminds me I need God. Being broken lets me look at others and realize we all are limping around on three legs...and that's normal. A relationship with Jesus Christ allows me the chance to speak with eloquence when all I do broken is stutter. A relationship with Christ allows me to fly without wings.  A relationship with Christ allows me...enables me and I am a different person.
Especially at Easter we are reminded that someone was perfect, then, broken, then made whole. Because of his sacrifice, we don't need to limp through life running away from things but let him heal and restore us to fly as Eagles and run and not grow weary.

Sleeping.....well not right now of course.

I used to tell the family I was going to sleep....45 minutes later after having finishing the dishes, loading the laundry, picking up the house, double checking the dogs and writinge a list for tomorrow I would head finally for bed.
Now when I say I am going to sleep, it's the time I cuddle on the love seat with the cat and go through my prayer book, prayer list and evening devotion.  And since the husband is sick and sleeping downstairs cuz he can breathe better sitting up, I get the whole bedroom to myself....except of course the cat.
So I am sleeping...or rather I am slowing myself down to prepare for sleep. When the kids were little I don't remember doing this. I fell in bed exhausted, happy and thrilled that the day ended without major injuries or melt downs.  Now, I take a nap after lunch and when I go to sleep, it's more time to think so I don't always sleep. Falling asleep is a challenge. Why is it that some of our best prayer time is when we try  to sleep?
  I woke this a.m. and challenged by the message last Sunday, I did try to rise early while it was still dark like Jesus did.  One of the many differences between myself and Jesus... I couldn't quite get out of bed. I realize Jesus didn't probably have a Serta sleeper, with extra plush queen top.  Jesus probably didn't have three nice warm blankets over him and two, no, three pillows snuggled around.  perhaps if the luxuries of life were missing, getting out of bed to pray wouldn't quite be as much of a challenge as I seem to make it. However, I can get quite intimate with God snuggled in my nest...and I can listen as he speaks to my heart...and then I get up and get the prayer book out...