Rest for the Weary - It's Allowed

Article by Norma W. Beaird

Photography by Curtis and Norma Beaird

Many times in life, we become so busy with schedules, appointments, work, school, and everything else in between, that we completely lose sight of the beauty that is in front of us.  When you're running late for work, you don't necessarily take the time to focus on the lovely hot pink azaleas in your front yard or the dogwood tree in the park down the street.  

When you're on the way to the doctor, you're not necessarily focused on the sunshine-colored sunflowers or the blue skies dotted with cotton clouds.  You're in a hurry, probably going to do something that you don't want to do, and you have one goal........get it over with as quickly as possible!

 

This is how the American culture lives life, not to the fullest, but in a hurry.  Hurry here, hurry there, you're late, I'm late.......  No wonder our culture fights heart attacks, high blood pressure, disease and stress on every level.  We have to get to where we're going.....now.  We can't say "No" when we know our plate is already full.  

What will people think if they find out you're tired, stressed, overworked and in need of rest?   Wonder what will they think when you're in ICU waiting for a heart cath or an angioplasty? 

Will they think that you're not......

Superhuman?    Bullet-Proof?     Perfect?  

 

In 1969, my father died of a massive heart attack at 43 years of age.  He was manager of a huge grocery store in South Carolina.  He worked until all hours of the night, stocking shelves and making sure the store ran properly. He ran a "tight ship".  In today's terms, he would be considered a workaholic.  

In addition, he was also held up and robbed on two different occasions. On one occasion, he was robbed at knife-point as he and the assistant manager were tied up and left in the back storeroom. On another occasion when he was managing a store in Georgia, he was robbed at gunpoint. To say he lived under stress is an understatement. Unfortunately, he finally paid the ultimate price with his life.

 

My point in sharing this story with you?  Life is too precious to be spent in a whirlwind of stress.  Some of you who are reading this may be struggling with changing careers, finding a less stressful job, retiring, slowing down or even taking a day off.  Let's be honest about the subject of rest as we look to the Word of God.  

Even the good Lord took a day of rest:

Genesis 2: 2 - 3

² And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had made; and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had made.

³ And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it He had rested from all His work which God created and made.

So, if the Lord thought that it was important to rest, and we're created in His image, then it's extremely important that we take the time to rest. After all, God deserves your very best.  Your family deserves your very best, and you can't give your best to anyone or anything when you're constantly exhausted, overworked and burning the candle at both ends. Sometimes, it's important to say, "No"!   Your mind and your physical body needs rest.  You need emotional, mental and physical rest.

Genesis 1:27

So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them.  

So, on this beautiful day that the Lord hath made.......

Rejoice........and Rest.

Copyright 2013, Norma W. Beaird.  All rights reserved.