Week Two of Rest

So, my last post was explaining to you how I can't just "be still". But my body needs some time right now to be still.  Fighting with my brain to make my body rest is quite exhasting!  Oh, the irony!

So, week two of my sabbatical.  I've watched it snow, read 2 books, watched some movies on Netflix,  spring cleaned the house, napped a bit, had some great lunch dates,  started playing Candy Crush Saga (the most addictive internet game ever), and just spent time with God.  It's really strange not focusing on children's ministry all week long.  That really consumed every ounce of my thoughts.  And guess what?  Children's church was a raging success last week without me!  I'm so proud of Val and the team for making it seamless and perfect for the kids.  I guess my pride is the thing that made me fear that it couldn't be done without me.  Forgive me, God, for being so prideful.  First lesson learned in the "being still phase".

I'm sure there will be plenty of lessons that God will be teaching me.  Right now, our family is working on a faith lesson.  And being still is the perfect way to bask in the lesson of faith.  God's timing is always perfect for He sees around the bends that we don't see coming.  I'm so thankful that I am learning to trust Him.  Even in the craziness of this week in our nation with bombings, explosions, and wide spread fear, I can rest in God's ever peaceful arms knowing that He has everything under control.  I need not fear for I know who is walking in front of me, behind me, and holding my hand the whole way.  Lesson number 2 is almost complete.  I wonder how many lessons there will be?  I guess I just need to be still and wait for the Teacher.

Be still!

I'm sure I've used that title before on some other blog post in the past.  It's something God constantly has to teach me...then teach me again...then pound me over the head with.

I'm good at lots of things, but being still is not one of them.  I can't even sit in the bathtub and "relax".  What is that about?  I don't understand the concept of "being still".  I am very good at running myself to the point of exhaustion.  I can pour my whole heart and soul into something until it takes every ounce of life out of me.  I'm really good at that.  And the product I produce is great, but the effects on my body are not so great.  And let's face it, I'm almost 40.  My body can't take a beating like it used to.

So, I decided to "be still".  I'm on sabbatical from my children's ministry job for the next 5 weeks.  Hardest choice I've ever had to make, but definitely something I need to do.  I need to recharge my brain, my heart, my body...and just let them do nothing for a bit.  I need to not pour into anything for a few weeks until I feel like myself again.  All I can say is it's going to be hard. But it seems that all the good lessons in my life that God absolutely has to teach me always seem to be hard.  So, I'm looking forward to the lesson.

My being still for this first week has involved spring cleaning (real "still", huh?) & picking some paint colors to paint a few rooms.  May not seem "still", but it's making time out for things I've neglected but that I really enjoy.  I've put my hobbies aside for a while now, that I'm going to spend the next few weeks having fun.  I even sat down and watched a movie the other day...all by myself... in the middle of the day!  How refreshing!

God made me the way I am for a reason.  Now, I just need to learn balance.  I think I'll sit down and ponder that...and possibly take a nap on the couch.  :)