I glance at the clock with a sigh on my lips.
Waiting… waiting… waiting… for that sweet hour of quiet.
I feel the agitation creeping in
As I ache for moments of rest.
And all the while, in the back of my mind, I wonder-
Is something wrong with me because I am longing for nap-time!?
The precious morning moments with God were gone in a flash
And before I knew it, I found myself attempting to dress a one-year old the likes of an octopus.
Wiggle and squirm and role over.
Surely she must have grown six extra arms in her sleep! :)
I glanced at my three-year old with panic in my eyes
As I realized that the clothing war had not yet been won.
I dashed down the stairs and dug through piles and piles-
Searching and searching as though looking for some most incredible treasure.
And there it sat scrunched up in a heap of a ball… the beloved rainbow shirt.
I grabbed the not quite laundered, but not-looking-too-terribly bad shirt
(Shhh- it’s our little secret!)
And raced up the stairs waving it high in the air.
And as I victoriously delivered the shirt to my daughter, I thought to myself-
Is it too early to be longing for nap-time!?
The day wore on
With bumps and spills.
Giggles and messes and toy train collisions.
The hodgepodge of bristle blocks
And plastic dinosaurs
Mixed with cars and little Lego men
On top of our language arts book.
As I tried to explain how to add the remainders,
Cook macaroni-and-cheese (their favorite),
And lovingly tell about Jesus,
I wondered deep inside of my heart-
Is longing for nap-time totally and completely one-hundred percent selfish?
And as the minutes went ticking away
I realized all that we had accomplished early in the day.
Loving and playing and laughing and hugging.
Teaching and training and Science exploration.
Hugging and cooking and reading and washing.
Disciplining and instructing and encouraging and remodeling.
Changing and feeding and finding lost shoes.
Cleaning and cuddling and raking the leaves.
Praying and guiding and leading little ones.
So many tasks had already been done.
Some executed lovingly and purposefully, and some not quite so much.
And yet with an overflowing list of items yet to get to,
I couldn’t help but look at the clock and conclude-
No wonder I am longing for nap-time!
See, God made us this way-
We get tired.
We need rest.
And it is okay, because He has ordained it.
He Himself rested on the seventh day.
Jesus too slept and went away to pray.
It’s a beautiful way that He reminds each of us
That we have limitations
And we are dependent.
We need Him to provide the rest that we crave
And the strength to press on those ten more minutes until nap-time.
So I recognize the triggers and the signs-
The annoyances, headaches, and little agitations.
The sighs and the yawns and the exasperation.
The short words and eye rolls and only half-listening.
And instead of despairing about what has yet to be done
Or fretting that resting will only be self-serving-
I thank God that He made me this way,
Depending and trusting and leaning on His grace.
And before I turn on the computer
Or call one more friend,
I ask Him how I can best use nap-time and rest for His glory!
I have been in your shoes before and longed for nap time. I am there daily with my 9 month old. Not necessarily for me to sleep, but for me to be able to actually accomplish productive things that I can’t do with her wanting “mommy attention.”
Isn’t it amazing how much we can accomplish in just a few short moments of uninterrupted time!? That age is full of special stages and exploration. Busy and wonderful and blessed. Have a wonderful week, Crystal.
~Jessica
Oh my goodness!!! Just what I needed today for a little encouragement! Thanks for sharing Jessica! I am so thankful that God has given us the gift of rest! I just need to accept that gift more frequently!
Thank you, sweet Kelli! I’ve been praying for you today (although I have yet to write on my GMG study for the past couple of days). How true that we need to accept His gift of rest to us. Hugs! ~Jessica
Thank you! Sometimes its hard to accept that our bodies have limitations (especially in extra weary seasons like pregnancy and newborns), but I love your challenge to see the beauty in the limitation and embrace the opportunity to press into Jesus. Thanks for the encouragement!
Oh Desire, I hear you! Many days I wish that I didn’t have those limitations, but if I didn’t have them, would I lean into Jesus so much?
Praying for you and that precious baby today. ~Jessica
I so am with you.,..except mine don’t nap!!!!! So I long for them to find that activity that grabs their attention and gives me some much needed…Me time…quiet time….time to relax quiet my mind and talk with our Lord….to rebuild, refuel andrecharge for many more hours before bedtime!!!! Wow how I miss naptimes :-s I too had an octupus…who still at four has 8 arms!!!!! LOL
Oh how we need that precious quiet to rest, and to be with our Lord. Most of mine don’t nap either (just the little two) but we have a mandatory “rest/quiet time” at our house most afternoons and that hour or two is priceless. :)
By way I just love those blue flowers!!!!! They really make your picture pop….your words and pictures inspire and create such a strong emtional link….such a gift you have been given!!!! And inturn a gift to us!!!!
Your so sweet, Amy. Thank you for your kind encouragement.
Have a wonderful day!
~Jessica
Sounds like most of my days lately. But you’re so right. I’m probably accomplishing more than I’m aware even though I’m about to pop.
Yes, it’s when I’ve had a number of days like that in a row that I realize that I need to accept my limitations and take time to rest.
How easy it is for us moms to go and go all day and yet feel like we haven’t accomplished much of anything. But God is using each of those time-consuming tasks and all of the little and big things… even when we’ll be doing them all again the next day.
Blessings!
Jessica
I am so with you! When my twins were younger I used to feel so guilty about longing for their nap! Now only the little one sleeps but all other 4 children have a rest time:) It certainly keeps me sane. I either catch up on some housework, put supper on, work on my home business or SLEEP. Thanks for this post. It gives me courage and makes me not feel so alone on this motherhood journey.
Oh, how I need those moments of rest that God has graciously plopped into my lap! :)
Have a wonderful day!
THIS IS ME!
Haha this is exactly how I am some days.
“Just two more hours until nap time… just twenty more minutes until nap time… we can do it!”
Thank you for the reminder that it’s not just me who feels that way and that it keeps me dependent on my Lord. I need my rest in Him. I remember the post you did a while ago about our rest being in the Lord. That has stuck with me.
I’m right there with you, Cassie! So thankful for the strength God gives us to get us through each day, and so thankful for the rest He provides. :)
I’ve seldom denied myself naps during the girls’ Quiet TIme. Just yesterday, neither of them slept, but I did! Sometimes replenishing our energy is the most important act we can do on behalf of ourselves and our children. Recognizing it as a God-ordained need is helpful!
Andria, So true that sometimes resting is the very best thing we can do for ourselves and our families!!