Rest - July Challenge

Summer is one of my favorite times of year. I love all four seasons, but I especially love summer because it is so full of life. On the farm, summer is the prime time for harvesting and preserving the bounty from the garden. Projects seem to pile up with the nice weather. The yard and flowerbeds need tended. There are picnics and parties to attend. But sometimes within that frantic pace, I find myself feeling overwhelmed. As I was contemplating this, I developed the idea for the July theme at Home in the Hollow – Rest.

I can’t tell you how many times I dream of sitting on my front porch rocker in the evening only to add “just one more thing” to my to do list. How many times have I thought about sipping coffee and visiting with Grandma only to get caught up in laundry and the endless chore list. But as I’ve been wrestling with this idea, I realized that some of the things I prioritize are not things of value.

I often find myself feeling accomplished when my house is sparkling and my weeds are all pulled. And that’s not a bad thing, but am I finding value in something that is second rate? When I look back a few years from now, will I remember if I had all the laundry done this week or will I remember the deep conversation I had with a close friend? Will I remember my perfectly clean kitchen or the moments I spent laughing with my husband?

Don’t get me wrong, I’m type A. I won’t deny it. And there is absolutely a balance between work and rest! If we only ever rested, life would be chaos. But perhaps I need to stop striving. Perhaps I need to value the moments I won’t have forever. Let’s face it, there will always be laundry to do. But I won’t always have Grandma’s memories, or moments with my spouse. We can’t hold onto the past, but we can create wonderful memories for the future and appreciate what we’ve been given today.

Rest sounds easy in theory, but I sometimes find myself weighed down with guilt. I fight with the idea that I didn’t accomplish enough during my day. Or the idea that someone else might need me. Or maybe I feel like someone else is working harder and I need to keep up. I constantly have to remind myself that rest is necessary. In order for me to function well, I need to let go of my perfection. I need to live in the moment.

So, my challenge for you (and really for myself) is to be intentional this month. To participate in the challenge, schedule 3 separate times this week for rest. For those of you who struggle like me, I am giving you permission to stop! Take a break. You are enough. You do enough. Your value doesn’t come from checking off a list.

I’d love for you to schedule 3 hours of rest into your week. But if you can only pencil in 10 minutes, then give yourself 10 minutes to just relax. Be intentional. Don’t let thoughts of waiting chores overrun your mind. Be fully present in the moment.

If you need a little help getting started, here’s some things I find restful:

• Reading

• Taking a nap

• Sitting in my rocking chair or hammock

• One-on-one conversations with close friends or family members

• Being outdoors

• Watching funny videos with Caleb

• Taking a walk

• Dreaming and planning future projects

• Photography

• Theological discussions with Caleb

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I hope you’ll join in on the challenge and make time to rest and enjoy the things that really matter.

Thanks for reading,

Abby