Today is the last day of a four day weekend...
...and excepting the fact that part of my family (including my much better half) hasn't been here, it has been more than wonderful.
- Resting, really resting... lots...
- sleeping in until we wake up...
- preparing low-key meals with several of my girlies helping...
- baking bread and a cake to welcome home our travelers...
- making pita with a friend for company...
- eating frozen yogurt cones for breakfast (the travelers devoured all breakfast foods on their way out)...
- cleaning the house together on Saturday, leisurely - with no expectations of perfect or being on time for a softball game...
- trying out "Le Cafe" for breakfast...
- watching episodes of Dr. Quinn ad nauseum (just ask Nadia... *grin*)...
- reading a book that has been sitting on my nightstand for over a year...
- not looking at or even thinking about work or ministry or really anything at all until Monday and I have to get ready to head back into another week.
It is approaching almost two years since I've had a break that has felt like a break the way these past few days have - and I pray that I feel as rejuvenated when I head back into real life on Tuesday.
One of those books they had us read in preparation to head to the mission field was a book called Margin by Richard Swenson and I must admit that it is an idea with which I struggle, on several counts. First, I'm not very good at it. Wife, mama to 8, missionary, teacher, blogger - I tend to keep my life pretty full and busy, and frankly, I usually prefer it that way. However, it is quite true that when I have no empty spaces in life or in my schedule, the only wiggle room is how much sleep I get. When there is a mini crisis, an unexpected expectation to fulfill, one of the kids gets sick, the internet doesn't work consistently or predictably for nearly 2 months - less sleep is the only way to fit in any extra that needs to be done.
I understand that this missing sleep isn't a sustainable strategy ~ at least not for long stretches at a time.
But I also struggle with this because I'm not so sure that the idea of intentionally guarding space I call "margin" in my life is biblical... a Sabbath most definitely is, but I don't see that the two are one and the same. I can see that margin seems wise, humanly speaking, and is, in general, a good principle, but biblical? I have to wonder if it is one of those things man has concocted to allow him to serve in his own strength, instead of simply being a conduit for God's strength at whatever moment He asks us to be.
I'd be very curious to know what some of the rest of you think...
And now on to this week's gratitude list:
(#s 1911 - 1939)
(repeating, of course, those things already listed above)
resting, really resting... lots...
sleeping in until we wake up...
preparing low-key meals with several of my girlies helping...
baking bread and a cake to welcome home our travelers...
making pita with a friend for company...
eating frozen yogurt cones for breakfast (the travelers devoured all breakfast foods on their way out)...
cleaning the house together on Saturday, leisurely - with no expectations of perfect or being on time for a softball game...
trying out "Le Cafe" for breakfast...
watching episodes of Dr. Quinn ad nauseum (just ask Nadia... *grin*)...
reading a book that has been sitting on my nightstand for over a year...
not looking at or even thinking about work or ministry or really anything at all until Monday and I have to get ready to head back into another week...
family home, all safe and sound, together again
homemade pizza
gardening surprises- eating our first tomatoes from our own "pop-up" garden
icy cold water to drink
rain today - even if it means the unbearable hot is literally just around the corner
African art
little girl planned birthday parties
sleeping in Tim's flannel shirts
being married to a member of a team of international softball champions! (whatever that means!)
electricity
crickets chirping
friends to help me change the gas bottle
homemade kites constructed from black plastic bags
discussing with my big ones yet once again how we are all sinners in need of grace... how we are all sinners who need to be ready to offer grace to our fellow sinners
Monday afternoon naps
homemade white cake with raspberry filling between the layers
almost... almost... feeling rested so that getting out of bed in the morning doesn't quite feel like next to impossible
having our mosquito ninja home once again
We had a 3 day weekend in honour of Family Day here - and it was good :) I hope you find energy for all that you need and want to do this week. I just came over from Ann's to pray that your week will be blessed. Take care!
ReplyDeleteRest is essential and a Biblical concept. Where it is not Biblical is when it turns to laziness and nothing gets accomplished. Not that mommas get to really "rest", I love how the Lord allows me to be at rest even though busy. Though I get more "rest" than you do!! Make sure you take some time to rest, emails and blog posts can wait, though I enjoy catching up through them!!!
ReplyDeleteyep, april... i agree that rest is biblical - it is this idea of intentionally leaving space (time, finances, etc.) so that when a crisis or something extra, something unexpected, arrives, "I" have the werewithal to handle it. I think it just stikes me - or maybe it is one of my personal battles - that it allows me to continue on in the strength of me and lets me be the decision maker - instead of leaning on God, finding my rest in Him, depending on Him to direct and then provide what is needed for me to obey.
DeleteI think about this sometimes too.
ReplyDeleteMy questions:
Did God intend us to work each day from only sunrise to sunset? With electricity these days we are able to work a lot longer. Before, when the sun went down, it was automatically REST time and not only on the Sabbath.
When we are stuffing our lives filled to the brim with work and other activity, is that so we can feel important? I'm guessing that's partly what it is. After all, "I'm so busy" seems to mean, "people need me and I am a crucial part of this society"
I think we shouldn't compare ourselves with others on the fact of how busy our lives are. Each person's capacity is different. We so easily judge others if we think they aren't "doing their part" to get this say, church planted or whatever it may be. In our days, are we snapping at people and annoyed all the time because we didn't have enough "margin" and so now are stressed out by all the deadlines? Or...Are we infringing on others because of it? If so, I guess we know we've got a bit much on our plates.
Well, you probably didn't want this much feed-back. I've gotta go serve up rice and beans for dinner...
xx
"Did God intend us to work each day from only sunrise to sunset? With electricity these days we are able to work a lot longer."
DeleteGood question - one I've pondered some, too... realizing that people have had candles, firelight and before electricity so I guess I don't think we can assume that things stop as soon as the sun goes down - well, it is amazing how bright starlight/moonlight can be and what people here accomplish in those hours.
The nature of our work has changed - not so much physical, necessary for actual physical sustenance and a lot more sedentary, mind work - which I've come to believe is just as exhausting, just in a different way.
So true we shouldn't compare - we need to accept others with their God-given limitations as well as abilities. I need to ask God to show me what level of involvement is His plan for me and not try and do as much or more or less than the next person. It can't be a competition and it can't be how we build our self-esteem.
I guess I'm really wondering how to live every moment God-directed, realizing that at times He may have me pushing through seasons of no space, no margin and that is His plan for that time. Other times, I may feel set up on a shelf and as though I'm accomplishing very little, but that too is His play for that season. And thus, "margin" - for lack of a better word - is not determined by me but by God's will.
Just loved all the feedback! I enjoy dialoguing with you!
Hugs back!