Last night as I was in bed before I fell asleep, I had this image of God tucking me in, as my mother used to do when I was a little girl. What a comforting image, to know that I am His child, and that He'll stay with me always. He'll drive out any monsters that may be lurking in the dark. He'll protect me from the evil one (Satan), and nothing will ever separate me from His love. What a thought. How can you not be joyful when you realize these things?
At work yesterday there was a young girl, maybe about two, who was afraid of a large picture of Kermit the Frog that is posted out in the hall. I watched her mom promise her that he wouldn't hurt her, that she'd protect her. It is odd, the things that scare us sometimes. With me, it was spiders, and clowns (Ronald McDonald, and this laughing clown my grandmother had, in particular). It's good to know that we need not fear these things. David wrote in Psalm 23:4: "Even though I walk through the dark valley of death, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me." (NLT)  It wasn't long after this image came into my head that I fell asleep and slept soundly.