I was sorely in need of some rest. I
had been running around making preparations for Easter. I was working
on a writing deadline with words that just wouldn't come. I had a
children's ministry scavenger hunt to prepare, practices to run small
people too, and the day to day stuff of life to take care of.
I was sorely in need of rest.
I'm sure that there are many of you who
can relate to a packed schedule. The problem wasn't really the
schedule. This season of our life is busy, but good busy, not
overwhelming, just full. But, it was simply time for a rest. My body
could feel it. My heart was yearning for it.
The funny part was that I was
completely unaware of it until I sat down on my couch.
I love my couch. It sucks you in, in
all the right ways. You aren't sucked into it, as in “I've fallen
and I can't get up.” But its soft rustic leather eases around you
and says, “Hello, old friend. It's been awhile.”
It had indeed been a while. Good Friday
morning I woke up and walked downstairs and sat down. Oh couch. I
forgot how much I missed you! My eleven year old son sat down next to
me and said, “Mom, how about a Star Trek in our jammies morning?”
He was speaking my language. When was
the last time I just sat down and did almost nothing. When was the
last time our family did that? My husband came downstairs and I
timidly asked him, “Hey, I know it's Holy Week, but do you want to
drink some coffee and watch Star Trek with us.”
To my surprise he answered in the
affirmative. “Yes! I think I need that. Let's do it!”
Watching Star Trek in your jammies may
not seem really rebellious in your normal schedule (nor may it sound
interesting to you!), but for us, this was a major diversion from the
routine. Not shockingly, after my hour of coffee and Star Trek I felt
refueled. Ready to take on the world. Words easily came from my pen
to my page, I found new joy in my preparations for Holy Week.
I'm so thankful for the quiet moments
of rest. This particular rest isn't profound life changing vacation
rest, or Sabbath day devotion rest, or even I need a nap on Easter
Sunday afternoon rest, but it was “come away for a quiet time
rest.”
In every family this is important rest.
In church work families this is vital rest that often goes by
unnoticed. God gave us each other to keep us in check.
Then,
because so many people were coming and going that they did not even
have a chance to eat, he said to them, "Come with me by
yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest." Mark 6:31
Jesus offered his disciples rest, that
they may not have taken without His verbalizing it. It would have
been ok, had my husband said no thank you to Star Trek on Good Friday
morning, but I'm so thankful I offered, so that he could accept.
What does “a quiet place” and rest
look like to you? Who keeps you accountable for rest, in a gospel
kind of way? Who offers you a quiet places and rest? Who can you
offer this to?
This is just one more way Jesus's work
is done through us, to one another. The simple offer of rest.
Our family decided that every Saturday
morning when there is nothing on the schedule, it will officially be
Star Trek in our jammies morning. We even busted out the calendar to
make sure that there were 2 mornings a month freed up for this over
the next few months. It sounds so silly, but so wonderful.
Rest. What a sweet, sweet gift of our
Lord. Praising Him for each moment, in the busyness and in the rest!
Labels: family, rest
