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Gentle Reader,
The Five Minute Friday ladies offered to take up a bail money collection for me tonight.
That’s friendship right there.
Kate and all of us. We: break.
Go.
Honestly? I just want a break. From the demands. From the worries. From the illness. From cataloging DVDs. (Yes, really). From laundry and the noise of the dishwasher and the dogs barking and the planning and the grocery lists and ALL THE THINGS.
I want to go into Super Introvert Mode. Able to morph into a blanket burrito in a single roll.
There are things that make me want to poke my eyes out. (That’s a bit graphic). If some people would just step up… If others would just calm down… If my hair would do the same thing two days in a row… If I just had this, could just do that, had the opportunity for…
I look up to the mountains;
does my strength come from mountains?
No, my strength comes from God,
who made heaven, and earth, and mountains.
He won’t let you stumble,
your Guardian God won’t fall asleep.
Not on your life! Israel’s
Guardian will never doze or sleep.God’s your Guardian,
right at your side to protect you—
Shielding you from sunstroke,
sheltering you from moonstroke.
God guards you from every evil,
He guards your very life.
He guards you when you leave and when you return,
He guards you now, He guards you always. – Psalm 121 (MSG)
I lean my head back against the couch and close my eyes as the dishwasher drones on and Chris blows his nose. (Poor guy’s been hit with a nasty cold). And I wonder: Are there breaks to be found even in the chaos? Am I looking at this all wrong, thinking that rest is something that must be scheduled, must take up a whole day (or five) on the calendar?
God protects me. Uplifts me. Guides me. Shades me from sun and from moon. Never sleeps.
He is active in my chaos, smoothing the way when best, giving me strength to make it over the lumps when best. He knows. And I think, in the middle of it all, He invites me to take little breaks. Little pauses. To breathe deeply.
To be with Him.
Stop.
True friends bail you out, right? 🙂
I’ve wanted a break from it all too. And God has given me just a smidgen of rest when I’ve really, really needed it, and found unusual ways to build me up again.
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They do indeed bail each other out. Or sit in the cell with you. 🙂
I’m starting to really think about Sabbath rest. Someone (I’m blanking on who) talked about “Sabbath moments.” Taking little snatches of time every day, especially the days that are so very busy, to pause and refocus. I need to learn to do that.
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I think we all do. Women tend to get so busy that we forget to look for the little things that matter the most. I love that phrase you put, “He is active in my chaos….” My prayer for you is that you find God in your chaos tomorrow. (P.S. I have $10 for your bail money.)
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Heehee, Melinda! You’re awesome!
You’re right. We get so stinking busy. Stupidly busy, even. May He grant us eyes to see all the little, intimate ways He blesses us.
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To mghollis38…uh, men get that busy, too…especially those with 25 rescue dogs.
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I feel your pain and wish for the same things too. I also feel the call to leave the normal and just be with God. Blessed by these words tonight! Write on friend!
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It’s the knowledge that one day we’ll have eternity to sit at His feet that keeps me going! Especially when I want to throw things. 🙂
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So, yes- $20 for bail and I’ll bring some gobs! 🙂 I do understand needing a break. I’m almost certain every woman feels this way at least once a week! And when the house of cards is about to topple over, God swoops in and carries me the rest of the way. We aren’t wonder women, we’re better…We are God fearing women with a purpose and a drive filled with fire and passion. Let Him remind you of all your strength and endurance. He’ll handle the rest.
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Good words, Shannon! Amen!
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I so want a break from the busyness and the chaos sometimes too. God does give us those moments of breaks, doesn’t he? I am reminded of how in Scripture we hear “Be still and know that I am God!”
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Yes. Being still is so hard, but so necessary. I’m not very good at it – thankfully there’s grace!
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Marie,
thanks again for reading my post today. It was a delight to read your comment and even more delightful to read your post. I don’t know the bail money joke, but a part of me thinks that jail would mean some welcome time without interruption, without internet, without distraction. 😉 (if only it weren’t a punishment for wrongdoing)
My favorite part of your post was how you took such a beautiful passage and wove it through the rest of your writing.
If we were locked up together, though, I think it would be hard to be silent. I too have that inconsistent hair, but as I get bored easily, God’s design must be greater than mine. I will be praying that the illness in your home does not linger. Looking forward to reading more of your writing in weeks to come.
~Tammy, your FMF friend
(tammysincerity.blogspot.com)
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Thank you for your words, Tammy!
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I honestly don’t want a break. I want to go harder and faster, open the throttle, lock down the speed governor, and either set a record of blow up.
I don’t have enough time left, so the doctors say. I’ll rest when I’m dead. (Nah. I’ll just go to Type-Hyper-A heaven.)
It’s a race, and I’m gonna finish it, running hard, and Paul better not look back too many times, because he might see a squatty, muscular Asian gaining on him.
Well, OK, he’s dead, I’m not, but you get my drift.
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Andrew…brother, you are awesome. Truly.
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I felt my heart rate go down while I read your words. Yes! Little breaks with deep breaths all throughout the day. The beauty of a flower, the trill of a bird, a stunning sunset–little mini vacations in my backyard.
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Yes!
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You had me at “bail money”. I can’t picture you as a “desperado” languishing in some jail cell. 🙂
It’s interesting you should mention a “Sabbath rest,” which really isn’t programmed into Christian practice the way it is in Judaism. Granted the Friday afternoon ramp up to Shabbat is typically hectic, making sure you’ve got everything prepared just so in order for the next 24 hours and some will truly be restful.
But then Friday evening comes, the woman of the home says the blessings and lights the candles, the sun sets, dinner is served, and the family welcomes (this is metaphorical language) the Shabbat Queen into their home.
Actually, it sounds like you’d like to go on a retreat or to some spa somewhere and hang out in a hot tub, or just sleep in late.
When my wife, sister-in-law, and daughter went on a 17 day trip to Paris and London last Fall, I took the same amount of time off and had a “staycation.” It was glorious. I even took a stab at preparing for and living out a Friday evening and Saturday Shabbat (it’s remarkably difficult to achieve if you don’t have the routine down, but incredibly rewarding when done well).
Maybe when your husband gets over his cold, you could suggest something similar for yourself. Just some time alone with nothing to do and nowhere to go.
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I love the concept of Sabbath. I love the idea of preparing for holy, restful time. You’re right that it’s not “programmed” into Christian practice and I think we suffer for it. God never said to ignore our need for quietness. And naptime. 🙂
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Yes. Super Introvert Mode commence! I know how you feel! And I absolutely schedule time to break, to rest in every single day. It doesn’t always look the way I want it too, but managing my energy is way better than attempting to manage my time.
Breathing deeply over here…
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Oooo, managing energy over managing time. I like that!
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Oh, wow – it looks like I missed a good Twitter party if you guys were talking about bail money!
All joking aside, Marie, I loved your post. I completely sympathize with where you are with needing a break. I hate to throw out a “me, too” but I haven’t slowed down in months. I will continue praying for you, friend.
And THIS: “Able to morph into a blanket burrito in a single roll.” – has me in a confused state of either wanting a nap or something to eat. 😉
…I think I want something to eat.
Take care, friend. Loved your words today!
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Eat and then nap. 🙂
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Marie, just beautiful. And I loved the picture of morphing into a blanket burrito. I’d be willing to bet most women want that some days.
And the psalm you shared? One of my favorites. I’m so thankful God never takes a break from me. And I think you’re right—He designed us with a need for rest. I’m learning to incorporate rest into my weeks. But it’s still hard for a get-‘er-done gal like me. 🙂
Thanks for the the great reminder today!
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I’m a “get-‘er-done” type, too. I’m learning that God doesn’t ask me to get all the things done. He only asks me to get done what He asks me to get done, if that makes sense. I think God’s lists for us are much shorter (and better) than the lists we make for ourselves.
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I completely agree with you, Marie! I know I add to the list God gives me. I’m learning not to do that, and to be content with what I complete in a day….especially when I know I’ve prayed and followed what I sense is God’s leading. 🙂
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I totally understand the need for a break. I pray you find the rest you need.
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Thank you!
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SO MUCH AMEN!!! (and ice cream! Ya see what I did there?) Love this… and you… and I would totally come bail you out, friend! (And hide the body! Because we’re friends like that!)
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I do see what you did there and I love it! 🙂
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I hope you’re working at making more time for breaks, since this post 😉 Your words reminded me of two things.
1) God created Sabbath–a celebratory type of rest day (an entire day!) right at creation. This was day 7 of the world–rest. So, our desire for rest is not unnatural.
2) Jesus, while He lived on earth, always made time for rest. He made time each day to connect with His heavenly Father, away from the crowds and the hardships of life with humans. If God on earth needed rest, so do we.
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Amen!
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