Sleepy Head

Soon after my 4 ½ year old son, Prince Will was born, I was holding him one night, standing up, slow dancing him to sleep. Suddenly, a tune and a few words floated down from the Father of the Heavenly Lights (James 1:17) and eased into my head.

“Good night, sleepy head, good night,

Good night, sleepy head, good night,

Good night, sleepy head, good night,

Good night, good night.

I love you so much,

I’ll miss you while you sleep,

Miss you while you sleep, sleepy head,

I love you so much, I’ll miss you while you sleep,

Miss you while you sleep, sleepy head.

Dream sweet dreams,

About ice cream and things,

About ice cream and things,

About ice cream and things,

Dreeeaaaam sweet dreams,

About ice cream and things,

About ice cream and things…

Then a lot of humming and repeat.

Simple song, but it stuck. It became a ritual each night and it put him right to sleep. Then just a few months old he had his first surgery to repair his bilateral cleft lip. It was a rough couple of days in the hospital…a lot of crying…by me. Well, some maybe, but mostly from Will. The incessant sound of a baby crying can drive one crazy, yes? Thankfully, we had a cure…morphine. No just kidding, the nurses wouldn’t let me have any and they didn’t give Will enough to stop all of the crying. But the Sleepy Head Song did the trick. I would hold and sway baby Will gently and sing the song and it would calm him down every time. It was truly a perfect gift from above and it only worked if I sang it. Sandra tried it and he would only cry louder. Hmmm…

Over the years I have continued to sing the song to him, but with less frequency. In fact, I can’t remember the last time I sang Sleepy Head to him; over a year, maybe longer. As he’s grown from a baby to a boy the song has seemed less relevant. Now he says his prayers and I say, “I love you and good night.” If more is needed to settle him down, it’s “Will, lie down and be quiet.” That works pretty well.

The other night Will and I were lying on my bed watching TV and as is my custom, I dosed off to sleep. I half awoke to a tickling in my ear. Will had leaned over, his cheek against my cheek, his mouth to my ear and in a whisper, he sang to me, “Good night, sleepy head, good night, good night, sleepy head, good night…” Even though my heart burst, I didn’t stir. The song did its magic and I drifted back into sleep.

Will is a son who loves his father. He lives to please his father. He is always asking for my approval. “Dad, how did I do?” or “Dad, are you proud of me?” He is constantly saying to me, “I love you, Dad”, because I know that he does, but probably also because he wants to hear, “I love you, too, Will.”

He reminds me of another Son who loves His Father. Who lived to please His Father. Who sought the approval of His Father. A Son, who, over 2000 years ago descended from His throne and was born as a helpless baby in a barn. A Son who lived to hear the words from His Father, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:17) A Son, who later knew of the impending torture and death He would face and did it anyway saying to His Father, “yet not my will, but yours be done.” (Luke 22:42) Yes, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights” (James 1:17) and Jesus is the most perfect gift of all…free to all who will receive Him and our life-line to Heaven. Happy Birthday, Jesus!