I’ve had a lot of time to slow down and reflect lately… Not something I do often enough, and hardly ever by choice. I am so blessed and grateful for all the blessings in my life. Family, and friends who have become family, coming to serve and care for me.

It’s been a bit of a difficult year with numerous physical trials and two surgeries that haven’t been fun. I prefer to be on the serving end of things, but there are times when it’s just as important for us to be on the receiving end - and that’s humbling.

From meals, treats, my favorite caffeinated beverages, carting me back and forth to appointments, helping me clean and organize my house, watching over me while Ronnie had to work, and providing my every need and desire. I’ve been blessed in every way! My friends range in age from the smallest child to my 98-year-old mother-in-law who calls to check on me, I have been blessed! Even the surgeon and medical assistants have been kind, compassionate, capable, empathetic and caring!!! I had a young friend drop a special card off on my porch yesterday morning on her way to school. It made my day!

Her mom texted me this – “You are a go-er and a do-er! I am, too. But some of the times I’ve felt closest to God have been when I’ve had to stop moving and be still. Hoping this will be one of those times for you.”

Then my daughter and oldest granddaughter showed up today with her boyfriend to help clean my house, de-junk some holiday things, organize some drawers in my kitchen that were long over-due for attention and serve me.

They didn’t leave until the house was tidied, the old holiday décor was properly stored which included Valentine’s Day, Easter and the 4th of July! To boost my spirits, they brought out my fall décor, filled all my Luminara candles with new batteries, and tucked me in for the night before they left.

Sensing my melancholy mood, my granddaughter shared a message she saw on Instagram from Grace Freeman that touched on the same cord as the one above.

“I never really liked fall before.

I mean, the leaves changing were pretty. But I knew what they meant. Soon they would fall off. The trees would be bare. The wind would turn bitter. The sun would disappear too early. Fall always felt like a warning that the cold was coming.

And that has never been easy for me. The plans get more scarce. The days get shorter. Everything gets quieter.

And instead of getting quiet with it, I would get anxious. Anxious to see the sun again. Anxious to have somewhere to go. Anxious not to feel lonely. Anxious for time to hurry up.

The colder months seemed to go against everything in me. I like movement. People. Plans. Long Days. Open windows. Having somewhere to be.

But this year, I’m beginning to wonder if maybe that’s exactly why I need these seasons. Maybe we were never meant to live in summer all year long.

Maybe there is a reason the sun sets earlier. A reason the trees let go. A reason the world gets a little quieter for a while. Maybe some seasons aren’t asking us to make more plans. Maybe they’re asking us to slow down.

To make soup. To light a candle before dinner. To put on another layer and go outside anyway. To read longer. To stay at the table. To call someone over. To notice the life that gets drowned out when everything is loud and busy and blooming.

I used to look at the bare trees and think everything good was gone. Now I’m starting to see that the tree isn’t dead. It’s resting.

Not every season of life will feel warm and full and exciting. Some will get quiet. Some will ask us to let things go. Some will feel a little bare. But bare doesn’t mean empty. And slower doesn’t mean stuck.

So this year, I will not waste the cold months waiting for them to be over. I will be as they are. Bundle up. Slow down. Let the days be shorter.”

This is exactly what I needed to hear today. It’s ok to slow down and rest! Through the rest we find LIGHT! His Light, through the hands of others who serve Him by serving us.

My wish for you this week is to slow down, organize one drawer or shelf in your home, grab your favorite caffeinated beverage, visit with a friend, light a candle and snuggle into your favorite blanket for some quite rest and reflection as we enter the season of gratitude. I am grateful for all of you!

Love ya, Les 😊

Life

Grateful to Rest