He Rode a Star

The little fellow above sure looks as though he's enjoying happy dreams. This was not the case with one of my learners, whom I'll call Sipho (not his real name). I overheard Sipho talking in the class and realized he was having a problem with nightmares.

Later in the day we sat outside on the grass, and I asked him about his dreams. He told me that when Jesus wasn't looking, he heard music, and then the vampires came.

I told him that Jesus looked ALL the time and reminded him about the Baa Baa Black Sheep song we sing in class. The sheep says he has no fear because Jesus is the shepherd looking after him, and Jesus never slumbers or sleeps. Sipho asked me what slumber meant. I explained that it was the same as sleep. Jesus never slept, so he was able to watch Sipho all the time.

Sipho said, "But Jesus does sleep. He was asleep in the boat in the storm."

Wow! He was right. That was some logical thinking for a little boy, not yet six. Recently our Bible story had been about the disciples waking up Jesus in the boat to save them from the storm. Sipho's comment showed me he was giving the matter serious thought.

At first I didn't know how to reply, then an explanation came to me.

"Yes, Sipho, you are right. Jesus did sleep in the boat, but that was when He was here on earth. Then He was a man, so He needed to sleep. Now He is in heaven. He doesn't need sleep there, so He can look after you all the time. I'll pray for you to have happy dreams tonight and you can also  ask God to give you happy dreams."

The next day I asked him if he had any more nightmares.

"No."

"What did you dream last night?"

"I dreamt that the stars came down to South Africa, and my dad and my mom and I climbed on them and rode to the moon. You were on the moon too. There were red and blue flowers with numbers on them which said, 'Whatever you think about, it can happen.' We rode on skate boards and skated on ice."

"Did you pray for happy dreams last night?"

"Yes."

Thank you, Lord, for answering Sipho's prayer.

What you would say to Sipho about Jesus sleeping in the boat, yet being awake now to watch over His children all the time?