Squeaking Sheets

Squeaking Sheets

I cried out to [God] for help,praising him as I spoke.

Psalm 66:17

Several years ago, I was a counselor at a church camp. The dorm I was assigned, along with other counselors, held about twenty-five girls, all between nine and eleven years old.

On Wednesday I was awakened by one of the girls around three o’clock in the morning.

“Help me! My sheets are squeaking!” She was rocking from side to side in her bunk.

“My sheets are squeaking!” And by that time so was the bed.

After stumbling around in the dark and stubbing my toe on a footlocker, I arrived by her bed at the same time as her counselor.

“What is it, honey?”

“My sheets are squeaking.”

“Sweetie, we don’t hear anything. Try to go back to sleep.”

Her voice rose in frustration. “Help me! My sheets are squeaking!” Her counselor took her hand.

“It’s okay. We’ll take care of it.”

“My sheets are squeaking. My sheets are squeaking.” She was grabbing at them, trying to make them stop. The bed was really rocking, and the camper in the top bunk was waking up. We had no idea what she was hearing, but the other campers were stirring, so we had to do something.

We got her out of bed, took everything off, shook it all, and remade the bed for her. She lay back down and was asleep before we could straighten up. Together we got the squeak out.

And while getting up in the middle of the night is not my favorite idea, the little girl had it right—when your life is squeaking, cry out for help! God will hear, and he will help you get the squeak out.

—Stevie Stevens

Dear Father, I am so glad you help me with the squeaks in my life. Help me to stay close to you in squeaky times. Amen.