Self Preservation = important

Not really in a place to write a novel tonight but I thought it might be necessary to put out there how important self preservation is. Not just for special needs moms, but all moms and dads, working parents, grandparents, retirees, etc.There is simply something to be said for taking a break from life. As the mom of two special needs children, I am finding that this is more and more needed if I am to continue in my current position as "The Meeter of everyone's needs".

Yesterday was Easter. A day of celebration, family, good food, friends, fellowship, worship and friends. Confession: By the time 9:30am rolled around, I had snapped at all three of my boys at least once. I was high strung, rushing around, completely anxiety ridden, a hot mess. Like a Xanax kind of hot mess. That anxiety continued for the rest of the day. All the nervousness I was feeling came from my own inability to push away the stress from the previous week. If I had just taken a few minutes last week to be still, settle down, find a quiet place to be be calm, I might have been more prepared for the craziness of Easter and my family might have gotten a better me.

And isn't it interesting that GOD totally planned that kind of self preserving into our week before we were even mentioned or thought of?

Leviticus 23:3 : "Work six days. The seventh day is a Sabbath. A day of TOTAL and COMPLETE rest. A sacred assembly. Don't do any work. Where you live, it is a Sabbath to GOD." 

And here I am, blowing through the day, forgetting that GOD intended me to rest. To put everything aside, the running, the going, the calling, the organizing, the doing.. and just rest. And not a little, COMPLETE REST. I need to be better about this. Maybe not even wait for Sunday. Maybe a little bit of Sabbath once or twice a week before Sunday even comes so that I can be the best me for my family when it is time to be still at the beginning of a new week.

Tonight, after I had served dinner and everyone had eaten, I let my husband know that I would be getting into a hot bubble bath with candles, warm towels, clean pjs and Crossing Jordan re-runs and then after that I would be headed to bed. He was quick to hug me and reassure me that he would have no problem tucking the boys in and to just rest.

It was glorious. It was a small Sabbath. It was important and awesome. Learn from my mistakes. Take some time for you. Not just because it's smart, but because GOD said so too :)