By Lauren Molinari
How often do you actually rest in your every day life? Actually do something that recharges you and reengerizes your soul? If you’re anything like me, probably not very often.
In this season of life, I find myself as a working parent of five, trying to prioritize my marriage, children, job, household, and social life, always juggling a hundred needs and obligations at once. And while life is full and blessed, it can also be draining and relentless. If I’m being honest, I don’t take the time that I should to rest. To just be. To enjoy...without the looming shadow of my to-do list or just one...more...load...of laundry.
I’m fairly certain the news of the school closures has sent waves of shock and panic throughout suburbia...I’m pretty sure my husband had to revive me after reading the email that school is cancelled for the next month. I was almost cross-eyed from visions of four energetic children bouncing off the walls, and me - slapping together a lineup of PB&Js with a crying infant on my hip and a conference call in my ear.
Once I came to, my panic turned into action in my normal get-it-done fashion. So I scheduled and listed, calendared and Googled. If this was going to be our new (temporary) reality, then I was going to cah-rush it. I have crafts planned for the kids, a color coded daily schedule, and a new list of areas in my home to Konmari.
But amidst all of these recent lifestyle adaptations, I can’t stop thinking about the concept of rest. Between social distancing, school closures, social cancellations, etc, it’s almost as if this is a (albeit forced) time of rest. A time to be at home. A time to be with your family. Maybe a time to read a book, or catch up on that documentary, try a new recipe or actually do a craft with your kids. As I’m writing this, I overheard my five year old son reading Cat in the Hat. His robotic, kindergarten words caught my attention and I put my phone down to witness his precious attempt. How present are we in our day-to-day lives? How willing are we to completely stop what we’re doing and revel in a moment we’ll never get back?
The idea of rest isn’t a new one. God created the Sabbath for us to rest. In fact, He commanded it. We are human beings, with finite bandwidth and limitations. Our Heavenly Father knows us best. He also knows what we need. He Himself rested after creating the heavens and the earth - not out of necessity, but example. How often do we take one whole day per week to recharge?
“By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work.”
Our Father also knows that the only place we can find real, sustained rest is in Him. Take this opportunity to lean into Him, in the middle of your anxiety, fear, and questions...seeking the peace only He can give. Pray, spend time in the Word, and confide in Him.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
The events of the last few weeks can lead to feeling uncertain and unsettled. But in the midst of it all, I encourage you to view this as a silver lining, as a byproduct of pause, and actually rest. To slow down and soak up the moments with your kids. To FaceTime friends and nurture relationships you haven’t had time to. To do the creative things that invigorate you - paint, craft, read, woodwork, or write (because God gave you those gifts to use!). My prayer is that you’ll seize this unique opportunity to reflect on your life, your priorities, the allocation of your time and resources, your schedule and hopefully come through this time with a renewed sense of purpose, stronger relationships, and a new appreciation for intentional rest.