The Wait . . .

The Wait - Four Weeks To Vacation

I am four short weeks away from a three and a half month long vacation. And, I’m barely able to contain my excitement at my approaching liberty. During the long winter months I’ve logged hours in here at work, I’ve dreamt of and planned how I’ll spend this glorious gift of time.

Of course the usual ‘To Dos’ have come to mind:
Continue working on my building projects
Complete the design of and plant a garden (flowers primarily)
Convert the minivan I picked up last autumn into a camp mobile and take it road tripping
​And . . . as always, enjoy the company of family and friends.

For several years my canning jars have sat empty stacked up in my shed. This year my daughter and I intend to fill both mine and hers with salmon. And hiking has been almost non-existent (comparatively) since I started my tenure over five years ago here at work. So, I hope to traverse many wooded paths this summer.

But mostly I plan to . . . rest!

Allowing my body, mind and spirit time to rejuvenate is not a natural inclination. When life presses and pushes and pulls at me, I bow to the demands. Though I set my building projects aside last year, it was not a restful season for me or my family. And, I am finding that not taking time to recover is taking a toll.

The last year of my mother’s life, her end of life care and her death were intensely stressful as were the resulting family dynamics and divisions. The effects of my step father’s death and my ex-mother-in-law’s death and my oldest son’s father’s death and my ex-son-in-law’s death have hugely impacted the lives of those I love as well as my own. Just last night a group text came through expressing sadness as we approach the first anniversary of one of our family member’s death.
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So as this long winter gives way to warmer months and I soon fly home from work, I am grateful for the time I’ll have to spend with loved ones and to pursue some of the things that lend to joy and laughter and peace.

"Rest is a weapon given to us by God. The enemy hates it because he wants us to be stressed and occupied."  - Elisabeth Elliott