Just Let Me Take a Breath

Just let me take a breath, if only for a minute.

Let me come to terms with all the things this world has thrown at me.

Let me sit in silence and revel in the quiet.

Let me sip on a cup of coffee without the phone ringing.

I want to look at the horizon and see it for what it is, still and beautiful.

I need a moment.

 

The summer was fast- too fast. Between doctor appointments and mowing all the grass I haven’t had my rest yet. Maybe you feel the same way. Maybe your summer was filled with taking care of aging parents and adult kids and grandchildren, too.  Perhaps we took on too much because it is required of us in this season of constant change and emotion.  Regardless, I believe God has a plan, and it is a solid one.

 

Navigating the business of life has always been a constant struggle. I am moving through life as if inside a rather large labyrinth, never sure what is around the next corner. I have not had any straight paths, always a u-turn or dead end. Then I pick myself up, dust off and try again. The key is to always move forward, I think. I cannot change yesterday and I cannot predict tomorrow. I can only breath in this moment, live for this day, decide what my immediate next move is.

Determining your next move can be overwhelming in itself. Sometimes I say these things to myself at the end of a challenging day.

Slow down the process.

Lose the urgency.

Turn off your phone.

The dishes can sit in the suds.

The dog will live another day without a bath.

The kids can eat Ice cream and marshmallows for dinner.

Have a seat, grab a cup of something. Put your feet up and rest a while. Read the word, read a good book, close your eyes and listen to the crickets. Pray for peace, rest, understanding and mercy. Relish in the thought of tomorrow being a brand new day, a new beginning, a fresh start. Relax in the comfort of rest.

By making myself rest, meditate and renew, I am readying my spirit for another round. I am preparing myself to take the Holy Spirits hand, allowing it to guide me to get it all done, make the right decisions, love my people fiercely and turn to the father when I need another re-boot in rest.

By slowing down for only a moment, I can speed up when necessary. I can maintain my soundness to serve others who need me. I can pull from restored reserves of emotional, physical and mental energy, enabling myself to smile at the sunrise of a new day, each time it dawns on the horizon.