a child of god
this is the way, run in it
We've just finished a Bank Holiday Monday, over here in the United Kingdom. And back in my home country, the United States of America, they were also having Monday off for Memorial Day. It's one of the few Monday holidays that we share, for different reasons.
Ian and I really enjoyed yesterday. Looking back on it, I've been pondering on the skill of taking time off. I had to learn how to do that. As an American, our work ethic and shorter vacation/holiday allowances once we hit the work force meant that I had to get used to taking time off. When Ian and I got married and he took it for granted that we would take a whole 2 weeks time off for our honeymoon, I was shocked! Ha, ha. That seemed extravagant to me, as often early on in careers in the USA we only have 2 weeks time off a year. It seemed like a huge splurge to me, right at the beginning of our married life together. We will have been married for 12 years in June. I have learned a lot of lessons during that time, and one of them is that people are worth investing time in. We all know what it is like to have a list an arm long of things we need to do, people we'd like to see and touch base with, and God tasks we need to prepare for. But that list should not take precedence over the people God has given us to love and live with. I had to learn that and I got to practice it yesterday. :) This morning, Psalm 127 was in my bible reading line up, and it reminds us/tells us that we can't make something happen that will be a blessing by hard work and toil alone. We need God's hand on it, His blessing. The Psalm says this, "Unless the LORD builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; unless the LORD guards the city, the watchman keeps awake in vain. It is vain for you to rise up early, to retire late, to eat the bread of painful labors; for God gives to His beloved even in his sleep." I love that! I love it that God wants to be in the middle of what we are doing, and that He will give to us what we need even as we sleep. So just as it is ok to go to sleep, and trust that God will help us and provide what we need, it is ok to down tools for a day and take a break off to rest and play with our people that God has given us. He is in that too. He created the first sanctified day of rest, anyway - way back when He created the world. Now this doesn't mean we aren't responsible to Him to be good workmen, preparing ahead of time and working towards the goals and in the jobs He has given us. We should. But, it does mean that there is a balance in life. And that people are important. I'm thankful that Ian and I took the day off yesterday together. We worked hard in the morning out on the allotment. He was netting our gooseberry, red currant and black currant berry bushes - to keep their fruit safe from the birds. I was digging over a bed and planting out the courgettes (zucchini for you Americans!) from the greenhouse. We enjoyed being out in the back garden together, and cooking and eating dinner together, in that slower pace of life that days off bring. It was good. God was in it with us. He blessed us. And today, it's back to work - the proper cycle of life that God says in His word is good for us. I'm thankful to God for teaching me how to get this balance of life right, and for being in it with us.
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Franci Ballwatching and working for the kingdom of God in Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham - UK Archives
January 2019
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