My best friends today!

I don’t remember the last time I used a sick day for myself.  When I could scarcely eat my dinner (and TRUST me, that RARELY happens…2003 is my last recollection of something like that) and went from the table to the bed fully clothed under my comfy blanket, I had a feeling I’d be calling out this morning.  Fortunately, I think it’s just a bad cold that responded (mostly) to LOTS of sleep, water and rest today.  Though, to be honest, it was somewhat humorous to see the confusion among my husband and children as they regrouped for Plan B.  I am happy to report in the “sink-or-swim” methodology, they did swimmingly!

With the day off, I managed to be highly productive on the reading front—in between naps—and the blog front as I had an uninterrupted day of researching, phone calling IT and finally committing to the new blog site.  (The previous two posts were written in limbo).

Mostly though, this restful day reminded me how important it is to take the time to REST.  And in this busy, chaotic time of back-to-school when our days are filled with work/school/homework/after school activities/family time opportunities to “Rest” are few and far between.  What if we dedicated one night a week to unplug and hang out?  What if we dedicated on day a month to chill as a family?  Tough to do.  When our priorities are to our children’s sports, extracurricular activities at school, churches, volunteer hours, it’s hard to find the ability to chill out and “Rest”!  If we aren’t rested, if our families aren’t rested, how do we EVER learn to REST?  Not resting leaves us vulnerable to sickness:  physical, emotional and spiritual.  Drained.  Wiped out.  Blah.  Rest revives us, renews our spirit and gives us courage and hope to put one foot in front of the other and face another day with priorities in order allowing all else to hopefully fall into place.

Be still and rest in the Lord; wait for Him and patiently lean yourself upon Him; fret not yourself because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who brings wicked devices to pass. Psalm 37: 7