Do you remember the story of the ant and the grasshopper? I remember that one as a child...but I do not believe I really understood this story until I got a little older. See.....I would be the ant. And as the ant, I would be frustrated at the grasshopper. I would be a little bitter (yes, bitter!) that I was working while the grasshopper played. I don't know when it happened....but sometime between being a fun loving girl....I got married, had children...and a career....suddenly.....I'm the ant. Boy, I wish somedays I could be the grasshopper....
Psalm 55:6 - I said, "Oh, that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and be at rest."
*If you could indulge in a lazy day, without any responsibilities, what would you most like to do?
I thought about that one.....there are so many things that I thought of. I finally settled on one...I would lay on a beach and read a book! That is my most favorite thing in the world to do! And most importantly, it gives me peace...it gives me rest. What would you do?
This chapter made me realize the important of rest....it doesn't mean I'm lazy if it's balanced. That's hard for me....I always feel like something needs to be done. I'm going to work harder on this one.
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It didn't take long for me to answer that question! I would definitely sleep! If I would have read this chapter a month ago it probably wouldn't have made much sense. But, since being diagnosed with depression and anxiety I understand all to well that you absolutely need to rest. I, too, thought it would mean that I was lazy but now realize the consequences of not listening to your body and God. He wants you to rest in order to be a good person, mother, wife, christian, friend. I really liked this chapter and look forward to the next one.
Dawn A.
This is a hard one for me. I do not take the time to rest. I'm always doing something as cleaning, yard work, work and work. Rest what is rest? I need to listen to God and rest so I can enjoy my family and grandkids. Sometimes I feel that if I don't get everything done that I'm not happy with myself. I really enjoyed this chapter and looking forward to the next chapter's.
As I write this, I am sitting in a hotel room in Washington, DC, alone and with no demands or responsibilities until tomorrow morning at 8 a.m. As much as I hate being away from my hubby and my precious girls, whom I miss so much when I'm away, I really need these business trips sometimes. Being a business owner, I don't have that many opportunities to take true vacations, and our weekends to the lake during the summer can sometimes be more work than staying home. So when I come on these business trips by myself, I relish the opportunity to have my morning time all to myself, breakfast made for me, the evening hours are mine to do as I wish. This evening, I worked on this study and reflected. Last night I was able to spend some time working on my geneology projects. These business trips, to an extent, are my breathers. There are a lot of demands on me while I'm here, and there is always some networking party going on in the evenings. And while I go to them once in a while, I'm always conscious to come back to the room and RELAX because I know how precious that time is to me. So this chapter simply reaffirmed for me what I already try to make sure is found in my life --- rest. I turn down some meetings and events at these conventions to make sure I get my rest. And sometimes, there are consequences to doing so, but never have I regretted it. I have always needed the rest!
Good chapter!
Shana - I am so glad you posted that!! I travel for business some and never look at it as an opportunity for me to find refreshment! I generally complain...rush around....complain some more....sit around at the airport (as it's never a direct flight)....and arrive back home exhausted. I'm leaving in two weeks....I am going to promise myself that I will take some time for me....and I will also pack my study!!
Thanks!!
Good for you, Mindee! These trips are really something I hate doing because it takes me away from my girls. I've been gone since Saturday and every day McKinzi has asked, "Are you done yet? When are you coming home?" Just breaks my heart. But I try to always remember the positives --- that the girls are getting good Daddy time and learning how he does things (as his scheduling is so much different than mine!) and that I get some ME time. :)
But I tell ya, I'm ready to come home. I've had a few nights of relaxing! Now tonight and tomorrow night I'm just going stir crazy. Can't wait to see the girls on Thursday. Oh -- and my hubby too!
:)
Shana
If I could do anything I wanted to one day, I would be right next to Mindee on the beach with a book. I'd also have a hat so I could tuck it down over my eyes and sleep! Maybe in a hammock...that sounds wonderful!
I also travel a lot with work and really enjoy the time to myself. I love being able to do what I want when I want, watch what I want and take a long, hot bath without an interruption. I also love that when I come home, I don't take the kids for granted and they don't take me for granted because we've missed each other. Steve is good about keeping things running so that's nice to appreciate, too.
As some of you know, the Burkett family tries to sleep every Sunday afternoon. We try to have all of our work done on Saturday so we can lay down when we come home from church. Levi is not too keen on this anymore so we let him lay around and rest. Ashley still sleeps, as do Steve and I. I would say about 95% of the Sundays, we actually sleep. It's great! There was a time when I felt guilty, but I realized I was a more refreshed person. I don't feel guilty anymore!
OK....I love Sunday afternoon naps!! I have been a Sunday afternoon nap taker my entire life...my family teases me about it. There is something completely refreshing about it! I must admit, I do not always get them in...but I can tell when I do not...my body needs the rest. Each week, I go and go and go...Sundays are my day to catch up!! My family does not nap with me (well Max does sometimes) but they completely respect my nap time and know it's my time!
Yippee for the Sabbath!
In college we had these rooms called 'prayer closets'. They were literally closets, with little more than a chair and a desk inside. Retreating there for a few minutes to reflect, pray, and gather my thoughts in complete silence was often enough to get me through the rest of the day. Because I'm so task oriented it's often hard for me to stop and break when I really need to. This chapter was a good reminder for me of how important it is to take some quiet time for myself to get refreshed.
Being the GM of a restaurant is stressful and allows little time for rest. It's like you are on call 24/7! Sometimes I have to take a step back and tell myself that I need rest. Most of the time I don't get it because I have a husband and two kids at home. If I had a lazy day, I would sleep in and then sleep some more!! I had never heard the story of the ant and the grasshopper! I would be the ant!
As this is my day to catch up finally - I am the ant. Always have been and it's not always good to be. I need to balance this better as Jeep always tells me I'm working too much - to just STOP. Which is very hard for me to do. Guess it stems back from when I was the single mom w/2 kids. Both kids were into sports, dance (tap, jazz and ballet on the dance team of course) plus I went to school 2 nights/week and Saturday mornings. How I managed without falling apart I don't know. Now it's a whole other family - Jeeps kids, my grandkids and both families. We'll be taking a honeymoon soon - that will be a beach somewhere, sand, sun and FUN!! Balance between work and play - need to put it on the calendar and stick to it.
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