At the end of a 10 week trip that included two countries and 9 cities, I remembered Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz. I clicked my heels three times and whispered hopefully, “There’s no place like home.” But my Keen sandals didn’t work like Dorothy’s ruby red slippers, so I still had to go through 27 hours and 3 airports to get home!
When I finally fell into my own bed, my heart breathed a sigh of relief. The next morning life looked a lot better. After hiding out at home for three days, I felt like a new person.
How had I gotten to such an exhausted place? Am I the only woman still searching for a healthy rhythm of work and rest?
I don’t have this balanced life thing down. I try to schedule my time wisely, but life slips out of control. Like a 10 week trip. Like finding yourself at a restaurant table with 25 precious Central Americans right after you spent the weekend at a conference with 800 women. You’re so tired, you can barely talk, let alone in Spanish.
But you breathe a silent prayer for grace, and God comes through again.
Jesus was a lot busier than I am.
He travelled, preached, healed, and delivered people. But he also rested. In Mark 6:31, there were so many people around that Jesus and his disciples didn’t even have time to EAT. But Jesus stopped everything and said, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”
Maybe you’ve been living to the relentless rhythm of exhaustion. Any mother of toddlers can relate to not having time to eat. Any mother of teens knows what it’s like to be wearied by worry. Any working woman can get worn down by her day job.
Let’s close our eyes a moment and listen to the voice of our Savior:
“Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”
Jesus calls us to a rest that refuels and renews us. Refueling comes when we plug into our energy source. Refueling comes with sleep, down time, fun time, outside time, and God time. Jesus renews us. He reshapes our thoughts and gives us new perspectives and attitudes. He fills our hearts with His life-giving Spirit.
Here’s the thing: to find rest that refuels and renews, we have to get to a quiet place.
I have a hard time getting there. The quiet place has to be somewhere I can go regularly. I don’t have any Ruby Red Slippers to take me to Kansas, and I can’t always go on vacation. But for now, I’m putting my feet up for a moment even though unpacked suitcases call out to me.
On Thursday, I’ll be back with more about HOW to get to the quiet place. In the meantime, let’s remember His voice whispering, “Come with Me.” How about carving out even 10 minutes with Jesus to get the rest that refuels and renews?
Thoughts?
Here are my thoughts!
http://thevinevigil.wordpress.com/2013/09/11/hints-for-home-schoolers-taking-care-of-mom/
I have found that the worst part of traveling is returning home. Not that we are returning, but the physical journey. The long flights with heavy bags and tired people, the delays and lines, and back when I lived in Africa, the ridiculousness of public transportation. But actually being home and sinking into your own bed: bliss! Traveling is wonderful, but it’s also vital to find some rest after it’s over! 🙂
So true, Jen. Thanks for sharing. I wonder how long you lived in Africa? 🙂
Can’t wait to read your Thursday post!! This is such an important issue, Betsy and I’m so glad you shared it with us at Testimony Tuesday. How can we possibly hope to attend to all the things in our life without appropriate rest and refreshing?
Thanks, Holly. I enjoyed reading your words on Testimoney Tuesday as well. Hope you find downtime to get energized for all you have on your plate, sister.
Sometimes it’s awfully hard to find that quiet place. Today it’s my children’s blow-up pool in the backyard. Yes! Let’s give each other permission to take a break now and then, even if the suitcase is not unpacked! 🙂
Thanks for sharing this!
Sounds great! I have a friend who spents lots of time in her kid’s blow up pool. 🙂 Blessings.
Thanks for this, Betsy. Today’s quiet place is going to be the screened-in back porch, complete with comfy chairs, my blank book, and some spiritual art journaling. And since my boys are napping, I think it’s time to head there right now.
The screened-in back porch sounds heavenly, Betsy. I pray God meets you there!
I have found the most wonderful resting place to be alone with God. It’s very difficult when you’re a working mom to find the time or place. You can’t neglect work or you’d get fired. You can’t neglect making dinner for your children. You can’t neglect the shopping or there would be no food! Thankfully, I found a beautiful, shaded, private space behind the building where I work to take my lunch almost every day. I love connecting with Jesus in that serene space with no distractions. I need that time of grace in the middle of a work day most of all, because I’m not a mom who enjoys having a full-time job.
Lovely, Deborah. I’m glad you find that place of grace in the middle of the day. I know being a full time mom and working a full-time day job must be so challenging. May God give you strength and joy for each new day!