Saturday 19th December

Today is the start of my holiday.  Yay!   I really need one right now.  Its been a very busy few months - not only have I been working quite a lot more hours than previously but I've also been getting up and hour and a half earlier every day because I've had to get Sam and Josh to their school bus in the mornings.  Keith used to do it but since he changed jobs that has now fallen to me.

So I'm tired.   The boys are tired too - especially this week as we have had a couple of very late nights  ( Church Christmas dinner on Wednesday and Star Wars on Thursday)  We are all looking forward to spending the weekend in our pyjamas doing nothing much.   We need a rest.

God says that we should rest.  He knows that we don't function well on non-stop activity.  Not only that, but if we don't have time to rest then we probably don't have time for Him either.  And we need that even more than we need downtime from work.  For me, one of the great things about writing this blog every day is that it makes me take time out to sit and think, to meditate if you like.  Even as I'm writing this my mind is engaged fully on what God might be saying today.  It's a time out for me - and it's really good for me.  Which is why I do it.

I remember years and years ago during a very busy time of my life when I just seemed to be going full tilt at everything seven days a week I woke up one morning and it was as though God was sitting on me.  His face right in my face.  And a very serious tone in His voice.  He just said ' If you don't stop it, you will be in serious trouble'.   I knew He was talking about my health and I knew I had just received a VERY serious warning.   From that day on I decided that I would have a day of rest every week.  Sundays were not the best days because at that time I was so involved in my church that Sunday was almost more busy than a work day.   So I made Saturday my day off from everything.  My day to walk on the beach and listen to music and chill.  Do nothing.  Sleep,  potter, rest.

In this last week before Christmas we are probably all going to be somewhat busy.  There is stuff to do.  Work to get through before Thursday afternoon.  Office parties, playgroup parties, school discos, social stuff to attend.  Then there is the day itself to prepare for.  The shopping and the last minute presents and the food prep.  Carol services and Christmas fairs and all sorts of stuff.... it can seem like a never ending list of activity.  And whilst it might be enjoyable and all part of the seasonal good cheer, it can also be exhausting.  And we crawl over the finishing line at 2am on Christmas morning just longing for a lie in and knowing that the kids will have us up at six.      Not ideal.   But pretty much how it goes for most of us.

So today I challenge you to stop.  To sit down with a cup of tea and do nothing.  To go back to bed or put your feet up with a good book or watch a Christmas film all afternoon.   Go for a long walk.  The beds can be changed another time.  The shops will still be open on Monday.  The world will not come to an end if the dishwasher isn't unstacked until later or the hoovering isn't done till tomorrow.   Cut yourself some slack.  Give yourself permission to breathe.  And take some time just to listen.  Because Jesus didn't come to be ignored.    Don't leave Him on the doorstep because you are too busy to stop and let Him in.   He wants to come in and have lunch with you today.   It's the most important date you will ever have.   Enjoy it.