Take Time to Smell the Roses

I'm not the kind of person who can easily relax. As much as I'd like to stop to smell the roses or take a walk basking in the spring breeze, it just doesn't work for me. Bubble baths and candles are even a lost cause for me, so much so that we didn't even bother putting a tub in our new bathroom! lol

In fact, sitting around doing nothing - or "relaxing" - is a cause of distress for me. When I stop doing, I start thinking. Thinking about anything and everything. I make to-do lists, wish lists, or grocery lists in my head instead of clearing my mind; therefore, instead of recharging my batteries for the days ahead, I waste all of my mental energy before the action even starts.

To keep my energy useful, I try to fill up any free time as quickly as possible. Take my current work schedule, for example. I was working every morning teaching English to international students, then spending the afternoons around my house doing whatever I needed or wanted to do each day. Well, I felt I could be doing more with my afternoons, so I decided to get an afternoon job. Now, I find myself getting up much earlier to do my housework then working all weekend around the house. I'm also finding I have less time to study my Bible and write my devotions (which is probably why I'm so stressed!). I'm also writing a book, running my own business, and raising 25 little baby chicks that hatched a week ago at our house :-) Laundry is piling up, I'm eating more fast food, and I'm unhappy. 

I was happy two months ago, but felt guilty for having "free time" at home. Why do I feel I have to max out my time?? Why do I feel guilty over a lazy afternoon once in a while? Even God took a day of rest (not that I'm comparing myself to God by any means, but I think you know what I mean).

I've been making an effort lately to not write down my to-dos, but they keep circulating in my head. I'm afraid all the balls I'm juggling will fall to the ground if I take my eyes off them for even a moment.Sometimes I feel that my cares- all the balls I'm juggling around- are too small to bother God about, but they aren't!

1 Peter 5:7 says, ^"Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."

Cast ALL your anxiety on him!! That means your to-do lists, your stress from work, your worries about the future, your financial situation... cast it ALL on him. Why? Because he cares for you. The Lord God Almighty cares for you. Let me say that again. The Lord who created Heaven and Earth cares for YOU. If nothing else can give you rest or contentment, the fact that Jesus Christ died for you because he loves you and that he is by your side in every situation- that fact alone should give you peace of mind.

This all leads me back to my desire for contentment. Proverbs 19:23 says, "The fear of the LORD leads to life; then one rests content, untouched by trouble." That's exactly what I want: to "rest content, untouched by trouble." I dwell too much on what needs to be done each day, my never-ending to-do list, that I can't really be content. Once again, it all comes back to keeping my focus on God rather than my to-do list.

Lord, help me today to learn to rest content, to take time to appreciate my blessings, to smell the roses, and to simply enjoy my life exactly how it is today without thoughts of the past or future. Help me juggle what you need me to do and help me not feel guilty for letting the rest fall to the ground. Help me to bask in each moment for its own special blessings because each minute, each day, each week that passes is one I can never get back. My life will never be exactly as it is right now, so help me see the beauty of this day. Thank you for this and every day. Amen.