Rest and Relaxation
Genesis 2:2-3
And on the seventh day God finished his work that He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work that He had done. So, God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all His work that he had done in creation.
Much thought has gone into the strong consistent pattern in my head of why I think thoughts that I should always be up and moving, working, doing something. You may have these recurring notions as well as me. I don’t know if it comes from our Puritan work ethic background as a nation, or if I feel that others around me will think that I’m lazy if I’m not up moving, doing something. I’ve been told more than once that I am very hard on myself, which is probably very true. I want things right in my life, my home clean and organized. As my Grama would often say to me as a little girl growing up, “Everything in its place and a place for everything.” This was her admonition to me as an up-and-coming young lady to encourage me to keep my life and surroundings in good order. Yet there have been quite a few times I have sacrificed relaxing and even resting in lieu of doing what I perceived as something that needed to be done right at the moment. I believe Martha in the Bible, the sister to Mary and Lazarus, had the same struggle. She wanted things “just right,” and wanted everyone to have everything they needed, food, comfort, etc. while they were visiting in her home. Yet here was Jesus in the flesh, right there in her home, visiting and fellowshipping with everyone, speaking truths and prophetic words, yet her desire to be up doing was greater at that moment than anything Jesus possibly was saying at that moment. So, let’s pause right here and ponder this. What have we missed because we felt the same as Martha on our life’s journey? Special moments with our mates, or our children. We only get one chance at that specific moment to catch the laughter, the fun, the precious happening. Don’t miss the laughter, the smiles, the cuteness, the cuddles. We can also be so hard on our bodies, driving them way past the place of sensible endurance. A short nap, oh no! There are dirty dishes in my sink! Sit out in the sun and enjoy the breeze and antics of the dogs? Oh no, there’s laundry that needs to be caught up with! And before you know it, the sun has gone down, the dogs are asleep in their beds, and you’ve missed the beauty of the day. Dear one, we only go around once. Take time to laugh with your friends, cuddle your little ones, take the ride and enjoy an ice cream cone, stop for the cup of coffee. You are entitled to rest and relax just as much as anyone else, and even as our heavenly Father took time to rest, setting the example for us, so are you given liberty to do the same.
What about you? Are you too hard on yourself? Can you begin today to give yourself permission to rest, play, sit, sleep, etc. without the guilt of a work alcoholic haze blinding you to the simple and joyful things of life? Think about it today and have a peaceful, relaxed, fun-filled day.
