“In quietness and rest shall be your strength.” Isaiah
Somewhere, deep in the night hours, I awakened and it seemed there was a smile in my soul. Almost like I was a little girl again, free of the burden of responsibilities, light as a cloud, smiling in the soft warmth of my covers with a sense of excitement, all is well and good things are awaiting sort of feeling. A pleasant feeling emerged from my heart, “I am resting, living in peace, restoring and it is good.”
So often, we give and give and give and then wonder why we become grumpy or short in patience. But, God has put rhythms into our lives to remind us just how much we need our bodies to go completely away from the stress of the day in order to cope with the demands of life.
The day has a cycle about it–so many hours of light and darkness. In the light we can see to read, to work, to be active–but darkness was to be a signal of closing the day and its duties off.
Sabbath was also instigated by God to remind us to stop, to put aside work, to put aside the frenzy, to rest and cultivate peace and to restore.
In our 24/7 world, with false lights to keep us up and working all hours of the day, 24 hours of internet, 24 hours of tv, cars with lights that can travel all hours, etc., we lose the concept of rest and refreshing.
No wonder there are so many stress diseases–heart, obesity, thyroid problems, nervous disorders, depression, mental disorders, and emotional disorders. We are busy all the time, guilty for all we do not get done and wearing ourselves out.
I realized many years ago that I was becoming very ill from so much push, push and work, work, work. I also realized that no one else was going to take responsibility for my health and well-being but me.
One of the reasons moms yell at their children is that they never get a break. Grumpiness and anger comes from pushing, pushing, pushing.
An hour of rest and getting away was a regular rhythm in our home. Every afternoon, I put a pot of tea to boil and poured out cups of tea, or little sippy cups of juice or whatever seemed good, and everyone learned, by training to go to their “places” for a personal time. (More on how I accomplished that later.) I could not have done without my hour in the day.I trained my children to it early and it gave me the ability to have a one woman tea time.
I also, committed to Sabbath rest on Sundays–closed all of my “work” on Saturday and did not pick it up until Monday. It was all still there when I got back to it, but the world did not fall apart when I did not work on Sunday–but, I was much more able to keep up the demands of my life when I took off and made Sunday a day or worship, rest, pleasure, fun and naps for me.
Work and travel chases me every day, demands my life’s blood. But, I rule over this force that would overcome me. It is why I am here in Asheville–resting for 3 days. My mind needs it, my body needs it, my spirit needs it. But as a woman who is attempting to grow in maturity in the Lord, I have had to be intentional about being sure that I include rest, refueling, restoration and inspiration into my own personal life. People deplete me all the time, every day, wherever I go. But if I want to last for many more years of giving out and being in ministry and meeting my children’s and husband’s needs, I must pace myself.
And so, though I have received so many wonderful questions, I will not be attempting to answer them until next week when I am settled in back home, have had time focussing on my family and am ready to jump back into the saddle.
May your soul smile very soon.
“One of the reasons moms yell at their children is that they never get a break. Grumpiness and anger comes from pushing, pushing, pushing.”
This is a great reminder. With a new baby, it is hard for me to get up early and have a quiet time but lately I have really enjoyed a cup of tea after everyone is asleep. I look forward to it!!!
Thank you for teaching me Sally and sharing anointed tools to help me as a mommy. I am equipped by your teaching DAILY.
Sweet Sally……you need to turn off your computer too!
I enjoyed this post very much. We need that reminder. I struggle as a pastor’s wife because we don’t have the opportunity to have the weekends as “rest” days. The rest of the world is not geared to give us other days off, either. We try to rest on Mondays, but most times that doesn’t happen either! Definitely feeling the burnout! So glad you are enjoying Asheville and the Biltmore!
As always your posts are an encouragement. I love the wise way you arrange your days, learning so much, thank you.
Susan
I am so glad you are taking a break! Also so glad you are modeling what to do to keep on keeping on and for sharing it, without apology or guilt that some time for refreshment is not a selfish thing. I too have the kids do 1 hr quiet time in the afternoons; what a great idea to let them have a cup of herbal tea or something special! On the rough days, I look forward to “my” time all day and plan out what I will do with it – take a shower, read, nap or tea and a beautiful movie. At first I used this time to get more chores done, but they never end and I, like you, have decided it can wait sometimes – the dishes will always be there, and it’s much more cheerful to do them when I am refreshed and humming. Enjoy your mini-vacation!
Thank you for this reminder. I am “working” on many things; one of those things is to get up early and begin our days in a better direction. At the end of the day yesterday, I was losing my temper. So, I didn’t plan to get up as early today. I need more sleep to be pleasant all day :+). Thanks for the encouragement. Weekly Sabbath rest & refreshment has also slipped away a bit — this is a good reminder that I need to be more intentional about keeping that time — it also contributes to being more pleasant consistently.
Such a wonderful and timely reminder. Thank you Sally…
Amen – you spoke my heart and took the words right out of my mouth lol!!! Everday at 2pm we have a quiet hour in our home – minus the tea but maybe I should consider making this addition huh? Anyhow – it is SO necessary. I also have been taking Sabbath rests from my blog – until sundown
We need these moments of rest they are vital to our emotional, physical and spiritual well being. Thank you for setting the example and paving the way for us!
Be blessed!
Courtney
You are so right. I have never been very good at taking care of myself and unfortunately I am now reaping some very serious consequences. I look forward to learning about teaching my children to have “quiet time.” I’ve tried to do that with my three-year-old but we haven’t had much success yet. Thank you for your encouragement.
I love hearing from everyone. You are all so very sweet to keep giving me input. Meanwhile, I am very grateful for a couple of days in hiding, but I wanted you to know I appreciate your sweet comments and questions and I pray each of you will feel His grace and favor tonight. Meanwhile, Sarah and I will crawl into bed, watch a swash-buckler English drama and eat some cookies, after a great day. Love to all.
I feel so blessed to have been introduced to you within the past 2 weeks. As if your books and wisdom is what my motherhood has been missing. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. My children and I are already doing wonderfully better.
Oh this is so, so good. Sally, what a blessing your writings are to me as a young woman on the journey of motherhood. I am waiting for both the Ministry and the Mission of Motherhood to come to me via Amazon, and can’t wait to get into them! Your blog has been so inspiring, and I’m sure that your books will only inspire me more-so. I am hoping to go to the AHEA conference in Red Deer, AB next month and hear you speak in person!
This is such a great reminder to take the time to rest. I also homeschool and we take an hour break after lunch to rest and read everyday alone in our rooms. I’ve never thought to have tea. I’ve begun reading your blog within the last month. It is so encouraging to me. The ladies in my homeschool group are going through your book “Mission of Motherhood” this year and have had some wonderful discussions and have been encouraged by your wisdom. Thank you!
As a mom to three girls and preschool teacher and volunteer preschool director, I feel so pulled and pushed and needed and tired. I don’t want to be grumpy, I want to be full of life and God’s joy for these little ones that God has entrusted me with. But I can’t reflect joy without rest. I’ll never forgot about a year ago the scripture “My sould finds rest in God alone”, just jumped off the page at me. My soul was so tired and this scripture was like water in a dessert! My joy is reflected when my sould finds rest! Without it, I will just be a grumpy, hurried woman trying to get things done and who benefits from that? Thanks for sharing! I really enjoy your blog!