Goldilocks in a Mattress Store

 “Oh this one is too squishy! Ugh! This one is like sleeping on a rock! Hey, now this one is a perfect combination, not too hard and not too soft! It’s like being on a cloud.” Mattress shopping can be a bit overwhelming but mom, my cousin, and I made it fun as we rolled around on all the beds in the affordable corner of the show room. We finally chose one that was “just right“. I couldn’t help but think how we were like three Goldilocks testing and evaluating each one. 
     It seems the famous fairytale has become ingrained in our culture as we are always trying to obtain what feels just right – jobs, relationships, our identity, churches, etc. God reminds us not to give too much merit to our feelings when we are making a decision because feelings change. And we all have different views and feelings on subjects. Instead, He encourages us to constantly seek what HE tells us is “just right”. Proverbs chapter 3:5-6  “Trust the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths.“ 
     Goldilocks has even found her way into science. There is a theory called the Goldilocks Zone or Principal that accurately describes physical laws that govern the universe down to the minute detail being exactly what we need for life to exist. We are the precise distance from the sun to be warm enough like Goldilocks’ porridge… Not too hot and not too cold but just right. 
     Back to the mattress selection—it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to understand the importance of where we sleep. Mom always said, “If you can simply get enough rest you can handle almost anything the next day. “ It’s true, operating on little sleep can make even small setbacks or challenges seem overwhelming. As kids we didn’t care much where we slept. Youths are resilient like that. We slept anywhere, even on a hot beach crammed in the truck bed on a mattress packed tightly with piled up bags of vacation clothes…and lots of sand. Once my daughter was at a sleepover and said she got cold in the night and had to sleep under a sheer curtain still on the rod that she found stashed in a closet. And my cousin Brenda once complained about her pillow, observing it had large chunks of cut up couch foam in it. I remember raising up my pillow from across the room offering it to her. I held it high in the air between two fingers and we both fell into a fit of giggles when she saw it was about as thick as a piece of cardboard. 
     We were in good company—In Genesis 28:11 and 18 Jacob used a stone for a pillow. In 1 Samuel 19:13 Michael used a pillow and mattress of goats hair. And in psalm 6:6 there was mention of a tear soaked pillow. Tears or sleep-slobbers aside, Hank Locklin wrote a famous country song asking his darlin to send him the pillow that she dreamed on so he could dream on it too…
     The pillows and mattresses in the show room all promised rest, but we three seekers knew how to wade through to find truth. False claims in life might distract us but Jesus said come to Him and He will give us true rest. 
     The Doobie Brothers 1972 hit lyrics using slang of the decade to mean cool say: “Jesus is just alright with me”.  But let’s let Goldilocks attitude take the commitment one level higher— when faced with a showroom of options, I find Jesus to be “Just Right!” And that’s better than a dream come true.
 

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