Well hello there! I am so glad you found me here today. I’m glad I found you here, too! It’s been a hot minute since I’ve posted any new articles, and I have been itching to get back at it! Have you ever had times in your life where you have been forced to take a break from something you love, against your will, because you unknowingly needed a time of rest from it? Like, you never wanted to stop doing what you were doing, but life and circumstances stood right in your way and gave you no other choice? Me too! In fact, that’s where I’ve been lately…deeply entrenched in doing life…the lovely and unlovely parts. I love to celebrate joy in life and as you know, I look for it wherever I am, whatever I’m doing. It’s been a long month or so, and I have missed writing immensely. My heart is soaring right now as I pen this, that I am able to sit here writing.
So, let’s catch up a little, shall we?
The last article I posted, chronologically speaking, was a remembrance piece honoring my Grandmother who had just passed away. We traveled to California for her memorial service, which was beautiful. Afterwards, my sweet Grandpa came to visit 
our state, bunking with my parents who live nearby, and he stayed for many weeks. It was wonderful!! The kids took their Great-Grandpa fishing, to a local aquarium, and many other outings. We were quite busy!
At the end of July, just like every year, we celebrated my birthday. Another year older, another year wiser, and I must admit that I love it! Being in my forties affords me a freedom I had not felt in my thirties or before. It’s hard to really explain, but when you get it, you get it. Plus, my family spoiled me royally, which I absolutely found so much joy in.
In August, as we prepared to celebrate a milestone birthday for our son, our daughter became very sick. Needless to say, we dropped everything to make sure she got better. With countless doctor visits, trips to the pharmacy, check-ins with incredible friends and family who wanted to help us help her, and still trying to salvage what we could of our son’s big day…I became exhausted!
Yes, you read that correctly. I, the one who looks for joy in all circumstances, became exhausted. Let me make it clear that this was not due to no one helping me. I had lots of helpers…my husband and son, along with other family and friends all pitched in and offered their services. No, my exhaustion was more mental and emotional. Yes, my body did get tired (after all that extra scrubbing and constant sanitizing, plus countless trips up and down the stairs to check on our daughter), and it needed rest, too. But what I’m talking about is that MAMA TIRED feeling. You know the one. Your heart is worried, your emotions raw, and you just want your baby (even when they’re old, they’ll always be our babies!!) to be okay. You wake up and race to their room, you make medicine and supplement administration checklists, you chart temperatures and oxygen saturation, you oversee all food and drink intake, you set timers for daytime checks, and you sleep so lightly that you could hear that proverbial pin drop, just so you don’t accidentally miss something.
This was me. For two weeks. The days all blurred together, I am not sure what happened on which day, but we made it! And our daughter is well again. Praise the Lord! Once she started feeling better, and we knew she would be just fine, my whole body heaved a sigh of relief and proceeded to shut down for two days. No cooking, no cleaning, no showering (OK, that’s not ideal, but you know how it goes…), no work of any kind. I could be found on the couch, in my jammies, with my coffee, simply relaxing. And my body and heart responded. All is well, and once again joyful, in our world.
So yes, life forced me to take a break from writing. I needed a break, but I was not broken. The break did not break me, either. It’s funny how we can interpret those words : break and broken. The first can mean “to cause damage that inhibits function,” or it can also mean “to take a rest.” The second can mean “in a state of disrepair,” or it can also mean “to bring into obedience.” It depends on the context, doesn’t it? This is why I titled this piece the way I did. As we ease into a new month, I want to challenge you to really think about breaks. What do they really do? Do you need one? (If you’re thinking that last question was a silly one, your answer should be “YES,” and I encourage you to take one!) I pray you are blessed today in reading these words, and that they resonate with you in the way you need them to.
Here a few of my favorite Bible verses for times that are busy, hectic, feel like thy may break you, or are just out of the ordinary. I hope they bring you peace, as they do for me.
