Rest......
What a foreign word, a foreign concept. I don't know if it's the American in me, but resting is a hard thing to do. I mean who has time to rest? Certainly not mothers! Or is it the very thing we should be sure to fit into our schedules?
In October of last year I gave birth to my beautiful, miraculous baby girl Olivia Faith. I have written the story of her life in my blog: Hello World, but just to touch on how I learned the importance of rest, I'll briefly explain the story. I broke water at 20 weeks, delivered her at 30 weeks. Not one doctor was able to tell me why my amniotic sac tore, but I knew. I know deep inside of my heart that I needed to learn the art of slowing down. At 28 weeks (after being on bed rest for 8 weeks), I resealed. I was discharged from the hospital and came home to my family. After resting so much, I couldn't stay still. Two weeks later I broke water again. When I think of it now I actually risked my daughter's life by not staying on bed rest. I didn't think of it like that then, but that's exactly what I did. I am so ashamed, but I share this with you to urge you to rest.
Our children need well rested parents; and our children need to learn how to rest (being lazy and being idle is a totally different topic). When my children have melt downs I know exactly what's causing it. Exhaustion or hunger. It's always one of the two. There are a few other possibilities, but those are rare. The popular culprits are being tired or having skipped a meal. What do I do? What do I say? Oh sweetheart, I know, come to mommy, you need to rest. We know how important it is for them to be in bed on a school night to avoid morning attitudes, how important to rest during an especially busy week to avoid their immune systems weakening. Oh, but when it comes time for us to rest! And here's the thing: they rest because we make them rest, but what's going to happen when they grow up? Probably be just like us? Maybe not. But I know I don't want to take the chance with my girls. I want them to know that their bodies are a sanctuary to be nurtured, to be respected. Our bodies are worthy of rest. Guilt free rest. Rejuvenating rest. Healthy, strengthening rest. Sweet, delicious reeeeeeeeest.
I believe that when we rest, we strengthen our spirits and our ability to hear God. And weren't we made to have a relationship with our creator? Who has patience for relationship when we are not rested?
Let us not deprive ourselves. Our children need to know the importance of rest. For goodness sake, even God rested! And He urges us, He actually tells us directly in scripture: Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Glory, Hallelujah!!!
My prayer is that everyone will deem themselves worthy of restoration, of rejuvenation, of rest. How can we be the patient, kind parents we wish to be if we don't take care of our own selves. Rest in God and let Him restore, refresh, and renew you. Let us be encouraged to raise God conscious children by teaching them the importance and the power of resting.
Rest, Refresh, Renew, Rejuvenate...........
Be Rested...........
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