After pushing, pushing, pushing all day, my tendency is often to hustle through the evening. It is so incredibly hard for my perfectionist, accomplish-all-the-things brain to just rest, stop, replenish. Does anyone else pack their evenings? The kids are in bed and my list calls so loudly: PLEASE FINISH ME. But really, is The List ever satisfied?
There is this odd correlation between the more kids that join our family, the later my evenings become. Usually, I get my second wind around 9:00 p.m. It’s so lovely with a quiet house and uninterrupted productivity.
But Jana! Hello!! [This is the talk I give myself.] Give your body a chance to rest! Take time to do something you enjoy. It’s okay to sit and be still. Maybe just go to bed, for goodness sake.
Perhaps you need someone to tell you those same things? . . . Maybe you need a pep talk, too. It’s okay (good even!) to take a moment to rest our bodies. To let The List wait until tomorrow.
When we do finally crawl into bed, let’s give our hearts permission to rest, too. Our minds might begin to replay the day and it’s tempting to dwell on the parts where we weren’t regulated or we didn’t respond with compassion. Instead, let’s rest in knowing Jesus’ grace covers the mistakes. Let’s intentionally turn our hearts to see the slow, steady, good work He is faithful to do.
I will both lie down and sleep in peace,
Psalm 4:8
for you alone, Lord, make me live in safety.
