Respite

May 22 my husband had surgery and we dug in at home for a few weeks of recovery time. Over the years I have often said, "I won't get sick because I just CAN'T." Homemakers and mothers often claim they "can't" get sick. Most of the time we fend off illness with some kind of miraculous inner defense system and go on doing whatever our home and family needs from us.

This time, a couple of weeks after surgery, just as my husband got a good report from his doctor on his recovery, I suddenly came down with the worst cold I have had in years. We spent the next two weeks sleeping as much as we could, eating light, healthy meals and gradually getting back on our feet. I am so grateful that it was just the two of us here, with no one else depending upon us for care and feeding during that time.

When I had a busy household with four little ones and a hard-working husband to care for, there were days when I felt I just couldn't go on. My sleep was interrupted night after night and the days were unpredictable. It took a lot of energy just to get up every morning. Sometimes I just wanted to check out and have a little "me time", but that was nearly impossible. The steady "snowfall" of housework, childcare and meal preparation kept me running.

That is when I discoverd I had to find moments of time and places to slip away to for prayer and a bit of respite during the day. In one of our homes there was a walk-in closet in our bedroom at the top of the stairs. I had a lamp in there. I would hurry in while the children were occupied, open my Bible to a short passage, get on my knees and pray and come out refreshed before they missed me. It didn't take away my tiredness, but it gave me a renewed mind and heart so that I could go on doing what needed to be done with grace.

Susannah Wesley, who raised 19 children, did something similar. She used to sit in her rocking chair and throw her big apron up over her head. When her children saw her do that, they knew they must not interrupt her because she was taking time to pray. They learned from her example and grew up to be people of prayer themselves.

Jesus cared about people who were burdened, tired and busy. He had some tender words for them and, among others, he may have had homemakers and moms in mind when he said,

"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me--watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."

Matt 11: 28-30 The Message

Lord, be with homemakers everywhere today. Call them to rest and find their strength in you. Amen.