On Life - Five Minute Friday - Take Time
by Nics
GO
Sometimes life in general gets on top of us. Everyday, there are bills to pay, telephone calls to make, paperwork to sort out, children to dress, housework to do, revovations to attend to, work to finish, work to get to, shopping to do, food to cook, telephone calls to make, people to see, places to go, and things to do and on top of all of this we need to eat, sleep, take exercise, drink water, and spend some time just being.
Have you ever wondered how life has become so busy? Do you take enough down time? Rest is as essential for our lives as exercise, eating, drinking and breathing. But I sometimes think we forget this, I know I certainly do. I have just realised recently that I am very good at packing my day full, so there is barely a moment to look up from a hectic schedule, and then I realise two things -
One - Life is not a television schedule, its messy things take longer than expected, they don't happen when we plan, and there are interruptions, diversions, and if your living in Northern Ireland (like me) at the moment, increasingly - bomb scares, and the chaos that ensures, both practically and in our minds; to deal with.
Two - Life takes longer than I expect and I should give myself a break, rather than always chasing my tale, and berating myself because I haven't ticked points 53 and 67 off my daily 'to do' list and be realistic, about my expectations of what I can get into a day.
We weren't build to run 24/7 -365 days per year, without stopping, life is not about go go go go go go go go go go. We need to take time out each day, and we need to take one day off a week.
It is about taking time to enjoy the wonder that surrounds us on a daily basis, whether that is the chat with the lady at the store, helping friends move house, making a cake, picking up the telephone and making those calls that need done, going for a walk or a run. Or as I did with my friends today, just eating lunch outside by the sea, listening to the waves with my shoes off.
If you aren't feeling well today, stop and ask yourself three questions -
1 - Do I get enough Sleep/rest?
2 - Do I get enough exercise?
3 - Do I eat properly?
These three things are essential for life, and so much of our stresses and busy craziness stem from not having them right.
We need to take time every day to be. To connect with family or friends, to enjoy what we are eating, to listen to those that need us, or some lovely music, to enjoy the sunshine or rain on our faces, to be alone with our thoughts, to give or receive a hug, and to enjoy nature, to take our dogs for a walk and to pray, pray, pray. Prayer our core foundation for life, that never-ending conversation with the Father. Chatting to the one who makes it all possible, to give Him everything that makes us anxious, stressed or upset, to celebrate with him when things are making us smile, to give thanks that we live in an amazing planet,
We need to take time out of life's craziness to 'just be', our each breath, each day, each thing - a prayer to him.
STOP
Wow, my fingers have possibly never typed so quickly, so much to write and only five minutes. Five Minutes, One Prompt, JUST TYPE, that makes Five Minute Friday, which you can find out more and take part in here. It is run by the wonderful Lisa-Jo. Head over and have a go yourself!
Happy Friday folks. What are you up too this weekend?
Tomorrow I am singing with Belfast Community Gospel Choir, at a jazz festival, and Sunday my Mama goes into hospital, keep her in your prayers if you have time. Thank you
That's it for now...
Nics
Salt and Sparkle = Life Remarkable
Reader Comments (4)
Wow you must have been typing at lightning speed! Great reminder for Every Day!
Thank you so much for sharing this today! I have recently been convicted about my inability (unwillingness) to celebrate the Sabbath. Just rest and spend time with God and with my family. I'm trying to find some Sabbath in each day, as well. Carving time from the world's schedule for communion with the Creator of the universe. And I am always richer for it. This blessed me today. Smiles -
Hi Nics....Thanks for stopping by. This post was just the reminder I needed today. As a single mom, business owner and caretaker of two elderly parents, there never seems enough time to take care of myself. The days have become so jam packed with must do's, that the things that really matter get put off until next tomorrow or next week, or never....sad. Especially when prayer falls by the wayside - the most important connection of all.
I have been taking the time for the last four weeks to eat right and run, but the time to relax and be present in the moment still eludes me, but I'll keep trying because I am exhausted and my life depends on it! Thanks so much for the inspiration this morning :)
Hello Beck, Amy and Hallie - thank you all for visiting Salt and Sparkle - we just loved having you here, and I am really delighted and thankful that you took the time to write some comments. It really inspires and encourages me to know that someone is reading what I am writing - thank you very much.
I apologise for not having come back to you yesterday, and I hope that you will understand, my mum went into hospital today to have a major operation - a knee replacement, this is the first of two. It has been a bit hectic the past few days trying to get everything ready for her, and I am trying my best to breathe, and trust, because He does take good care of us, and He will look after her.
Beck - thank you, I surprised myself, when I saw how much I had typed in the five minutes, my fingers were pounding on the keys! Thank you for stopping by and commenting.
Amy - you are so right, we are always richer for just hanging out with the Lord. I am so honoured that I encouraged you, and I really appreciate you letting me know. You might like http://www.sabbathmanifesto.org/ there are some really good ideas on here. You are right it is tremendously difficult to take time to rest, and spend time with our Father, and our families, or even just ourselves. There seems to be something built in at times that says this is selfish, and we are terrible people if we don't give give give of ourselves to others. However in all actuality if we don't take time to recharge to spend time alone we end up with nothing to give. Taking care of ourselves, taking rest, and actually scheduling it (I do this sometimes, feels wildly decadent, but it means I do it, and it has great effect) means we are stronger, and we are following Jesus footsteps, because He is the given of rest. Let me know how you get on, and what you find is working for you.
I am planning to do a little season on here on rest at some point. I'll let you know when it is ready to go!
Hallie - my heart goes out to you, I am not a mom yet, but I too have people in my life that I look after, and I am trying to set up my new business, and follow everything the Lord has for me. So while I will never know how you feel, I have an idea in my own circumstances. And, I wonder too how to fit it all into a day, it is so difficult at times, but I know that on the days when I don't take time to rest, even if that rest is me driving in the car, listening to a podcast or some music, then that is what I will take, because those moments when I sing in the car, or pray in the car, they restore my soul, and give me strength, to face whatever is going to hit me when I get out of that car!
That is brilliant that you are making time to eat and to run - running is soooooooo good for you, and it too helps with the restoration of your soul. I find when I run, 'I feel His pleasure' and his presence, and sometimes I catch glimpses of his voice in my mind as I put one foot in front of the other. I think most importantly of all God really understands what it is like. Think of Jesus before his ministry years - He was a carpenter in a hot, dusty country, he would have known tiredness and aching muscles, he would have dealt with angry customers, or unresonable demands, he had a big family he would have seen disputes, and arguments between his parents, He really knows what is going on with us, because He has been there, He has seen blood, sweat and tears, that so often are our everyday life. Fall into his arms of grace and just breathe, knowing that your every breath is a prayer to him, because as you breath in and out you breath him. YHWH. I am so honoured that you found my words inspiring, thank you. I look froward to hanging out more on your blog, and getting to know you.
Take care, ladies and let him Take care of you, Nics