Like many in my generation, I grew up watching The Waltons. Those heart-warming episodes captured both the love and the challenges this large family faced during the post-depression years. Many of life’s lessons as portrayed in those episodes are memorable, yet one in particular still stands out in my mind.
Olivia Walton (Mama to her seven children), who was supposed to be working alongside Grandma to do the daily chores for their large household, instead of helping to snap the beans for supper that evening, had stepped out onto the porch. Grandma found her there after awhile just sitting and inquired if she was feeling alright. Olivia let her know she was fine and just needed to sit for a while. The beans would have to wait for a bit.
We have all had days like that when we have felt inundated by too many consecutive days filled to overflowing with things that need to get done. The days blur together and before we know it, weeks (or months) have passed by and we cannot remember when we last took any time to simply sit for a while. This takes its toll on us on the physical, the emotional, as well as the spiritual level. The more we ‘press on’ in our work without taking time to restore our depleted fuel levels, the thinner our tolerance gets for others, for our environment, and for ourselves. Exhaustion sets in and, if we aren’t mindful, despair soon follows.
So what are we to do? How can we get the rest we need when our calendars are already double- and triple-filled with appointments, chores and obligations?
Matthew 11:28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
One of the meanings for ‘rest’ in this verse means be refreshed. And who of us could not use some refreshing?
Jesus paints us a beautiful picture of the best way for us to get refreshed. In the second half of Mark 6:31 he says, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”
This invitation spoken to His disciples is the same invitation He extends to His children today.
Go into your quiet place – your prayer closet, a corner of the yard, onto the pile of dirty clothes in the laundry room or anywhere else you can get alone - and spend some time with Him. There’s no prescribed amount of time you should spend there with Him, yet once you make the effort to experience it, you will find that it is just the kind of refreshing, energizing rest that you need.
Go ahead. He’s waiting for you. The beans can wait.
(For more information about forming a relationship with the Lord, see How You Can Find Him located at the top of this page.)
Olivia Walton (Mama to her seven children), who was supposed to be working alongside Grandma to do the daily chores for their large household, instead of helping to snap the beans for supper that evening, had stepped out onto the porch. Grandma found her there after awhile just sitting and inquired if she was feeling alright. Olivia let her know she was fine and just needed to sit for a while. The beans would have to wait for a bit.
We have all had days like that when we have felt inundated by too many consecutive days filled to overflowing with things that need to get done. The days blur together and before we know it, weeks (or months) have passed by and we cannot remember when we last took any time to simply sit for a while. This takes its toll on us on the physical, the emotional, as well as the spiritual level. The more we ‘press on’ in our work without taking time to restore our depleted fuel levels, the thinner our tolerance gets for others, for our environment, and for ourselves. Exhaustion sets in and, if we aren’t mindful, despair soon follows.
So what are we to do? How can we get the rest we need when our calendars are already double- and triple-filled with appointments, chores and obligations?
Matthew 11:28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
One of the meanings for ‘rest’ in this verse means be refreshed. And who of us could not use some refreshing?
Jesus paints us a beautiful picture of the best way for us to get refreshed. In the second half of Mark 6:31 he says, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”
This invitation spoken to His disciples is the same invitation He extends to His children today.
Go into your quiet place – your prayer closet, a corner of the yard, onto the pile of dirty clothes in the laundry room or anywhere else you can get alone - and spend some time with Him. There’s no prescribed amount of time you should spend there with Him, yet once you make the effort to experience it, you will find that it is just the kind of refreshing, energizing rest that you need.
Go ahead. He’s waiting for you. The beans can wait.
(For more information about forming a relationship with the Lord, see How You Can Find Him located at the top of this page.)
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