Friday, March 15, 2013

Rest

I'm trying something new today, and linking up with Five Minute Friday.  I need to stretch my writing muscle and making lists is just not cutting it.  Here's how it works...she gives you a prompt and you write for five minutes flat-no editing, no over-thinking, no back-tracking.

I am a big over-thinking back tracker but am gonna give it a try anyway.

Five Minute Friday

Today's prompt-REST

Go-

How ironic to be writing about rest at 1:40 am.  When I should be resting.  New mothers have something in common with menopausal women in that sleep becomes something of an obsession.

At 1:40 am my body says sleep, but my mind says now is a good time to run through a mental checklist of every little thing in the universe pinging around my brain and lying heavy on my heart.

Some are big things, but most are insignificant in the grand scheme of life...still my house has been neglected all week, and even that small thing looms large in the dark of night.

"Come to me all you who are weary and heavy burdened and  I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28

Come to me.

Jesus doesn't say lie there fretting, making plans, figuring it all out by my lonesome in the wee hours of the morning... and then rest.

He says, "Come to me."

So I do.  I hand over my list.

With each tick of the imaginary pen darkness fades. Anxiety falls away leaving peace in its wake, and my fitful sleep is finally blessed rest.


22 comments:

  1. You did this in 5 minutes in the middle of the night? I'm impressed.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Some of my best posts are written in the dark of night...also, many I realize are not so great when I re-read in the clear light of day : )

      Delete
  2. I needed a Bible verse for a Beth Moore Bible memorization project I'm doing. This one is perfect! Thank you, and thank God for leading me to you. :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Glad you linked up today or in the middle of the night as it were. It's good to hand over our lists and worries and allow rest to come.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Now that is a reminder I needed today. Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Well done! in 5 minutes you pondered a problem, came up with a solution, applied the solution and went back to sleep. Can our world leaders learn from you?!?

    ReplyDelete
  6. Oh this is great. I have been slowly moving from little babies to the age of sleepless nights. Where did my time in between go? I love what you wrote. Thank you so much for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  7. thanks momma for sharing this late night wisdom. I guess I have more in common with new mothers and menopausal women than I thought.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I had to laugh as I can identify with the menopausal woman part. I remember when I slept soundly through the night; those were the days! The Matthew verse you quoted is one I often have to meditate on. His invitation is clear. So I'm running to Him with my list too. :)

    Blessings and love,
    Debbie

    PS. So glad you decided to join in on FMF. I've found it to be a great exercise in writing.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I do think it was very ironic for you to be posting about rest at that time of night/morning. Now you have just given me something to look forward to:)

    ReplyDelete
  10. i've had 3 nights this week of no sleep...so praying i get more tonight and this weekend. Jer. 33:3 is my life verse.

    ReplyDelete
  11. This is a post I will definitely remember when those middle of the night worries start playing with my head.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Good grief, I love this post. I can write for 5 minutes too, but almost all of it is the most incredible nonsense! Very good work, Joyce!!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Very nice, Joyce. My kids are convinced I never sleep. I do, really.
    I'm not surprised you eat sushi. You live very close to the big city, and are much more cosmopolitan than I. Also, I have seen photos of the stuff your hubs eats. :) When my friend finally got back to the US after the big earthquake in Haiti, guess what she asked for first? Sushi. At the airport. Lol. Have a restful Friday.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Whoa...I SO did not know that about menopause. Nuts...and I was just feeling happy about my kids sleeping through the night too. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  15. Love this...not the lack of sleep...but your writing and ways with words! Have a wonderful weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  16. I haven't had this problem. Yet. I know that these things are looming in the near future but I am ever grateful that they have not come so far. I hope that the things weighing heavily are soon resolved in a positive way.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Good grief, writing a post at 1:40 AM. I would be hard pressed to think straight at that time of night but you did your usual good job!

    It's good to be back in touch after a fun week of family fun.

    ReplyDelete
  18. "At 1:40 am my body says sleep, but my mind says now is a good time to run through a mental checklist of every little thing in the universe pinging around my brain and lying heavy on my heart."

    Oh Joyce, I am SO with you on this. Mainly the heavy on my heart part. I love how God's word can bring more comfort than anything else, except possibly RESOLUTION!
    Our Bible study lesson at BSF this year is Genesis and what has spoke to my heart over and over is this,
    Genesis 18:14
    Is anything too hard for the Lord?


    I repeat it like a mantra, to remind myself. I should add your verse to mine, put it to music, and sing it ALL THE LIVE LONG DAY!

    Thanks for sharing your heart.

    ReplyDelete
  19. My mind usually picks a time starting with a '3' but I can relate to your dilemma. I hope you are able to hand over your cares (especially those little ones) and get some rest. Popped over from 5-Minute Friday.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Beautiful! I loved what you wrote.

    ReplyDelete
  21. I can definitely relate to wanting rest! :)

    ReplyDelete