a quick prayer answered quickly

Have you ever said a quick prayer, but not really expected it to be answered?  You pray because that's what you do.  Or perhaps because you don't know what else to do?  That happened last night.

Let me back up.

Our two big kids go to bed every night around 8pm.  Bennett goes to bed around .... well, whenever we can get him to sleep.  He's always been a night owl.  Always.  I can count on one hand the number of times he's gone to bed for the night before 9pm.  And most of the time that's ok.  Because he's such a laid back baby and because a certain toddler of mine requires a LOT of my attention, I don't get to spend as much time with Benny as I would like.  So after 8pm is our time.  He get to play on the bed with Daddy.  Have extra snuggles with Mommy.  I think he's figured this out, and that's why he stays up so late.  And most of the time I don't mind.

But sometimes I'm just tired.  Weary.  And Chris and I have almost no time for just the two of us.  No time to have a conversation without being interrupted or without having a fussy, overtired baby in our arms.  And when Bennett finally falls asleep around 10:30pm, we're usually right behind him going to bed.

So last night I come home from work around 10pm (late night for me!) and Bennett is just waking up from a nap.  Lovely.  I try to nurse him back to sleep.  No go.  He seems content so I lay him down in his bed hoping he'll fall back asleep on his own (that does happen sometimes) and go downstairs.  Of course, because I'm desperate to see my husband and have an actual conversation with him, Bennett starts fussing.  Then crying.  (sigh)  It's going to be another long night.  (the night before he was awake until 11:30pm)

After a few minutes of crying, I finally muster the energy to trudge back upstairs and start the fight to get him to sleep.  Just as I'm heading up the stairs, I say to Chris "say a prayer that he'll go to sleep", but I didn't really expect anything from it.  But he prays.  He offers a up a quick "Jesus, help Benny to sleep" and off I go.  I make it up the last 8 steps and just as I'm about to open our bedroom door it's quiet.

I pause.  Still quiet.  Did he really just fall asleep?  Just now??

I wait some more.  Sweet silence coming from the room.  After another minute of listening, I tip toe back down the stairs, kind of stunned.  I can't believe he actually fell asleep.

I do believe that is one of the quickest answers to prayer I've ever received.  Thank you Jesus!  And it seems so trivial, but Chris and I were able to sit on the couch, snuggled together, talking about our day, just the two of us.  And Lord knows we needed that!