“Come to me and I will give you rest.”

When the kids were young they would sometimes run to me when they were tired, just to sit on my lap and rest. We’d talk a little, or not at all, I’d stroke their sweaty little heads ..and when they were ready, they’d pop up and rejoin whatever was going on.

So when the bible says “come tome and I will give you rest,” the memory of my own children pops into my mind as the model for how I am to seek rest.

#1 Create a quiet space in your day. Turn off all distractions (TV, phone etc.)  Some people have a quiet, comfortable spot in their home, I like to take a walk with my dog.

#2 Leave the day’s busyness and problems behind as you focus on your blessings and fill your soul with gratitude. It’s not always easy to let go of pressing concerns, but a 5 minute time-out from them won’t hurt..and it certainly could help. I like to visualize myself literally handing my worries (and I always have ’em) over to God in labeled boxes. “Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you”-Psalm 55-22.

Once I am rested and “re-booted” it’s time to run out and “play” again..but trust me, some extra challenging days have me running right back to that safe lap more than once!