It was an intense struggle full of pulling, pushing, maneuvering and shoving. Finally, the fight was over and the battle was finished. I caught my breath and wiped the sweat off my forehead. Then I put first-aid ointment on the cut on my lip where I had bitten down during the worse of the conflict. Only thing left to do was to survey and assess the results of the war. Victory! 

The pile of battlefield remains was carried off to be dealt with while the former combat zone stood ready for a post-fight inspection. The theater of war had been brought back under control. What had started in hostility ended with a now subdued opponent.

And one more time, those dreadful, almost unmanageable bed sheets had met their match and were forced into duty. 

Ask anyone who has had to put on fitted sheets on the newer, deeper mattresses. They are likely to agree that my little scenario is closer to the truth than being an attempt at humor. Making a bed today can be a form of torture or battle that someone in every household, large or small, has to face regularly. 

Years ago, with my arthritis flaring up and my work travel schedule increasing, my handsome dude of a husband took on the war of the sheets. Once retired, it seemed to be Russ’ badge of honor to make our bed daily and to change out the sheets weekly. A quarter could have easily been bounced off Russ’ tightly tucked in top sheet with those magnificent military corners. Plus, it was a task Russ told me he did to keep me feeling loved and spoiled. It worked!

You can only imagine the rude awakening I faced after my sweetheart went home to heaven in 2020. Matter of fact, once my daughter helped me change the sheets right after Russ’ homegoing, I didn’t turn down the bed. I slept in my recliner for the whole five weeks before I moved to the new house I had bought. The recliner was a temporary “fix” for a challenge that was deeper than the bed sheets, and one that wasn’t going to go away. When I got into my new house, I knew I needed to move from my recliner back to my regular bed.

Even after I moved into my new house, I continued to put off dealing with my bed battle. That is until my back started rebelling about the nights in the recliner. What I also realized was that I had to contend with the issue that was far deeper than making the bed. The bed represented the most intimate side of our nearly 54-year marriage. I was in a new house in a new city, but that bed was the very same one I had shared with Russ for decades. Sleeping in that bed had to become part of my early grief recovery.

My practical nature took over as I thought of my options. The mattress was almost new so I couldn’t afford another bed, nor could I hire someone to make the bed daily and change the sheets when needed. I either would need to sleep somewhere else such as the guest room with a twin day bed; continue sleeping in the recliner and moving with pain during the day; or, find peace with sleeping in my own bed.

Whether anyone else considered it a practical or a spiritual issue, I decided that where and how I slept was a detail important to my Heavenly Father. It became a matter of asking the Lord for grace. I certainly needed unearned or undeserved mercy and favor. So, I made my bed situation a matter of prayer. I prayed for peaceful sleep as I went to bed (peaceful sleep meant a neater bed in the morning). Then I also prayed for help in the morning to get the monster, queen-size bed made. By sleeping on one side of the bed one week and the other side the next week, I only had to change sheets every two weeks. That compromise felt like a winner.

The first two-week stint in the bed went well. I actually slept four-six hours each night—a good amount for me. Then came the first sheet changing adventure. The war scene described earlier in this post describes this first time. I walked around that bed like it was the Jericho Wall to see how to attack the challenge. Pinterest offered plenty of advice on folding those sheets; but there was little suggested as to how to get them ON the bed when your hands can’t lift or pull. 

Month by month, my every second week of the sheet changing chore got easier with longer lasting results. Just recently, when I changed out the sheets, the whole process fell into place quickly. As I backed away to admire my work, I felt a big surge of pride at how smooth and flat everything looked. I didn’t bounce a quarter off the bed, but I did do a happy dance around the room. Then I added a praise slip to my gratitude jar!

When I think of all the Lord has to do to keep our world running well, my sleep and my sheets seem like tiny dilemmas. However, I’ve come to trust that God IS in the details of our lives. I call that everyday grace at its best. He graciously gives us help and He always keeps His promises. Our Father is sovereign, and He is good. Oh, how He loves you and me!

Matthew 6: 28-31 (CEV)

“I tell you not to worry about your life. Don’t worry about having something to eat, drink, or wear. Isn’t life more than food or clothing? Look at the birds in the sky! They don’t plant or harvest. They don’t even store grain in barns. Yet your Father in heaven takes care of them. Aren’t you worth more than birds?”  Yes, we are!

YOUR TURN:

As you live through the details of your day-to-day life, where do YOU see God’s love exhibited? Where in your life do you see God making grace personal for you? I love it when you share your comments after the posts. Your thoughts are valuable and are sure to help someone else.