learning to rest

I am a person, who by nature, likes to work. I’ll find tasks to keep me busy — sorting, re-organizing, cleaning, yard-work, and more — just so that I can be busy. Sometimes, especially when I’m home, it’s hard for me to sit still and not work.

I just see things that need, or potentially need, to get done.

So I stuff myself with busy projects and feel guilty for not working.

But, I’m starting to realize that working constantly produces well, more work. As we all know, the work is never ever done. There will always be one more drawer to clean out, or clothes to fold, or cabinet to clean. There is value in sitting still, in being creative, and in <gasp> not working for a moment.

I see the need for my children to have this free time. Again, it’s too easy for me to assign just one more math page, or read another chapter book, or let’s do one more science when they’ve finished their list. After all, my mind reasons, it’s only 1pm and we’ve got more time. But, no. I stop {well, most of the time — there are exceptions}. They had a list of things to accomplish and they finished the list. I absolutely must teach them to understand that the list completed is exactly that — completed. If I keep adding on work as extra then pretty soon the list is meaningless.

So, my friends, a completed list is a completed list. And, often in our house, they learn more once the list is completed. They are free to explore, to create, to make messes {which keep me busy with work}, to help out, to listen in on other lessons, but they are free because they did their work well.

I want them to understand the importance of rest.

While I bless them with this freedom I’ve also been learning how to embrace it myself. It’s about goals and achieving of goals. It’s about learning to be okay with putting your feet up for a bit. Life feels like a race at times. But, you see, in order to finish it there needs to be times to recharge.

I’m learning to rest. To say no to all the obligations. To watch my children. And to say yes when they ask me to play that game with them.

The work will always be there. Always. The time won’t.

Work hard, but make sure to rest. It’s okay. In fact, it’s good.