Vacations for our family have been our way of spending time with family who have moved away. Every once in a while we will take a 4 day trip up the coast to our favorite coastal town. But generally vacation time is family time. I enjoy this because I miss them so much. I’d rather spend my time and resources going to be with them then to go to some exotic place.
Our trip took 12 hours to travel across 1400 miles as the crow flies. On the way, it always feels like an adventure but on the way home it’s a long hard trip. Emotionally it is hard leaving the family I love. It’s also hard leaving mom’s great cooking and her special way of taking care of us. Life had exhausted me from the stress of the Covid year. I needed a break. I pretty much slept and laid around for the first week.
Coming home from vacation is a lot of work with all the varied responsibilities. I strive to get the household back into working order. One of the biggest challenges when vacation is over is getting food back into the house and catching up on the laundry. This is exhausting.
Sometimes my attitude has to have an adjustment, as I had been served and waited upon by my very loving mother. Now I’m back from vacation and I once again need to serve my family.
This week I had to remind my daughter not to have an attitude when she was called upon to serve her family. She’s on summer vacations so I’m sure in her mind she gets all summer off. We all know that’s not how it works, but it’s tough to swallow for a tween.
Experiencing this conflict within myself and seeing it in my daughter made me stop and contemplate life. What we are here for? We get breaks but what’s my real purpose?
I think anytime you stop your normal routine it gives you time to think about priorities. This is happening all across America now that we stopped for a while doing “normal”. People are rethinking what they want to do and where do they want to live. It is so good to stop. Once a week on the Sabbath, we are to stop. Rest. I notice my week goes so much better if I do. My body and mind needs rest.
Another thing that happens when I get home is wondering where was I on some of my bigger goals beyond the obvious like we need food to eat and clean clothes to wear. So I take my wondering/wandering heart to God in prayer. He is my God. He’s faithful to make my way clear again.
Prayer: Dear Jesus, I thank you for the refreshing vacation and spending time with people I love. I am home now and I need to resume the life you have given me. Please show me what’s important again. Remind me of goals I was working on. Give me fresh eyes for my life. Help me be creative in finding new solutions. Make clear your way for me. In Jesus name, Amen.
God’s word to us: I love you and I will indeed make your life clear again for you. Thank you for trusting me enough to take this break. That takes faith. So now I will show you the important again. You will be back on track in no time but this time refreshed for what’s ahead. And that’s a very good thing.
“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion?
Matthew 11:28-30 MSG
Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life.
I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it.
Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.
I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you.
Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”
How wonderful to know God allows rest. We are our own worst taskmasters sometimes, but God honors us when we take a break. And how sweet He is to help us on the return to get back to the very life He has given us. Oh how much I love Him. It says in this scripture He will show us how to take a real rest. Walk with Him and watch how He does it. Do we walk with Him? Do we add to much on to our already good life?
I am soooo thankful for vacations. But I am also thankful for the good life I come home to at the end of a vacation. Even if you can’t physically travel, a staycation is also a vacation. It’s taking a break from the daily routine. Is it time for you to take a break and be refreshed?
Blessings,
Kim
This photo is where we took our vacation at mom’s house. Little pic is of mom and I. Good times.
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