Friday, January 18, 2013

Relax: To Deprive of Energy, Zeal or Strength of Purpose

 
 
Do not sorrow,
for the joy of the Lord
is your strength.
(Nehemiah 8:10b NKJV)


Relax, I tell myself. Again. I am not good at relaxing. I suppose I never learned how, or at least that's what I tell myself.

Then last night, at the dinner table with my mom and sister, the youngest niece bounces in, snuggles into her mom. She had been throwing up just hours ago. He brother sleeps sprawled on the couch. She snuggles and nuzzles deeper into her mother's side. She burbles with energy.

We all look at her astonished. We tease her, guess you're feeling better. She grins. She bobs her head up at her mother and asks if she can show Aunt Kel something. Of course. She runs to her room to get it. She gets absorbed actually showing the game to her mom, instead of me.

My sister pauses, looks at the little child chattering away, lightly bouncing on the bench next to her. She asks nonchalantly,
"Do you know how to relax?"

Still full of glee, enjoying her  video game, without looking up at us she answers succinctly, "Nope!"

I laugh. I see reflected in this young five year old girl, a zeal for living, energy propelling her past obstacles and a strength of purpose that will serve her well. Growing up so fast and then I wonder if that's why I never learned to relax.

She will have still moments, but they will be rare. I know. I can be still now, because I have trained myself, but really there's always a stream of life flowing beneath the surface urging me on.



 


6 comments:

  1. Thank you for that!!! Maybe its best the we just learn to be still at times!!

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    1. Your welcome! I think it's a family trait that we are full of life and we have to give ourselves permission to be who we are. Love you, sis!

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  2. Kel...being still (stopping) is hard work. I think even more of a challenge for the young children being raised these days--so many distractions. I think it takes a special kind of wisdom and grace to find the balance. For all of us.

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    1. Jody- So true about the many distractions this life holds...I was just glad to know there is a time to relax and a time to be carried away by streams of living water...it never occured to me that to not relax is kind of like standing firm...realizing that God prevents my energy, zeal and strength of purpose from being totally sapped away because He is the giver of these gifts! Hallelujah! I don't have to generate strength or rest for myself...he does it so well...

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  3. I agree with Jody. For seven years - due to cirumstances - I had to be still. Good came from it. But, it was difficult, until I finally surrendered to The LORD on the matter.

    Now, I get up before dawn and sit in the stillness. Peace and Joy unspeakable flows....

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    1. Diane- Being still is oh so good and necessary...for me it is a learned discipline and God is the only one who can get me to be still.

      Thanks for sharing your journey with the Lord and how he has given you the ability to soak up His joy and peace in the stillness of the dawn...beautiful!

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