Beni hated naps. He simply could not see why he should have to take a nap when there was serious playing to be done. The trouble was he did get sleepy, but he would not come in to take a nap. He would simply lay down to rest for a few minutes and fall fast asleep. When he woke up, he was in bed. He never could figure out how he got there.
“Beni, oh Beni, come in now,” Mother would call. And there would be no answer. She would start her search.
“Emily, Fawn, do you know were Beni is?”
“He was in the sandbox last time I saw him,” said Fawn.
Mother looked out the back door. “The sandbox looks empty now. Help me find him girls. He can’t have gone far.”
He hadn’t. He was asleep in the doghouse. Mother dusted him off and took him to his bed.
Mother decided she would call him in a little earlier. He grumbled a bit and went to play with his blocks.
Mother went in to check him. He was gone. She looked all over the living room. She called the girls to help her look. They all checked the yard all over twice. Mother was getting quite worried.
“Emily, go upstairs to check his bedroom. Fawn, you look in the basement. I’ll go check the attic.”
“Mother, I found him,” Fawn called. “He’s asleep in my closet cuddled up with my big doll.” Mother went and checked. Yes, right among the shoes and behind the dresses lay Beni. Mother sighed and put him in his bed.
For the next few days, Mother succeeded in getting Beni to go to bed before he went to sleep. He fussed about having to lay down, but did generally did go to sleep, if not in his bed, then close by. That weekend, the family went on a picnic trip, and the children played all afternoon. Beni didn’t go to sleep till they were back home.
“Mother, there just has to be a way we can get Beni to safely take his nap were and when he should,” said Daddy. He frowned as he lifted Beni off the potty chair, where he had fallen asleep when they got home from the picnic. “He knows he’s tired, but he doesn’t come to bed. There has to be some way to convince him to sleep where he ought to.”
“I know, but I’ve tried everything I can think of.” She patted Beni on the back when they laid him on his bed.
“Mother, why don’t you make Beni a hiding place?” said Fawn. “He always goes to hide to take his nap. Maybe if you made a special naptime place, he would go to sleep. We’d know where he was then.”
“That’s not a bad idea,” said Daddy “But what kind of hiding place?”
“Well, he likes to hide, so it should have walls or curtains,” said Mother. “It needs to be warm, quiet, and not too dark.”
“Why don’t we set up the little pup tent for the outdoor naps and hang a blanket over some chairs for rainy days?” suggested Emily. “Jack will be in the yard and he will bark if anything happens.”
“I think that’s a good idea,” said Mother. “Let’s try it.”
Daddy got the tent from the attic and set it up in the yard. Beni – following his Daddy as usual, mostly getting in the way but learning to help – was really excited when he found out it was for him. He got his favorite blanket and a cushion from the couch and moved right in. Fawn made a sign which said, “Beni’s hiding place” and hung it on the front flap.
That afternoon when Beni had indeed fallen asleep in his tent, Mother called Daddy and the girls to see. “Girls, your idea worked. We know just where he is, and he isn’t grumbling about being brought in the house for a nap.”
“It reminds me of David hiding in the cave. He said ‘Thou art my hiding place, thou shalt preserve me from trouble,” said Daddy. “Beni just needed a special place for him. God has made us each a special place for us to work for Him. If we listen for His guidance, He’ll show us our special place. Then we’ll be contented and secure, knowing we are protected by him.”
God’s Love Reminder Verse:
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:28-30)