I Need A Break

First let me say, "Happy Thanksgiving" from our family to yours.

Today, I learned a lesson in the most unique way and I'd like to share it with you. My mom lives about 20 minutes away from us. We went to her house for Thanksgiving today.

With my mom and stepdad lives my sister, age 20, and her son, Bryant, who is 7 months old. It is a constant saying heard in the house from my sister, "I need a break." Well, don't we all. Each time she says this, I'll be honest my blood pressure boils and I think to myself, "So what, don't all moms need a break? Why should she be so lucky to have one on a consistent basis?"

Well, on my drive home tonight God spoke to my heart and I heard, "What if I took a break?" WHOA, hold on. My first reaction was God can't take a break, He is God. Then I heard it again, "What if I took a break? Just think about it."

So I did and what a powerful thought if God got so tired that He just wanted a break for 24 hours. Could you imagine what would happen? If God is in control and decided one day He wanted a break. I cannot begin to fathom how the world would operate without God in control. Would things be worse with the economy? How would it affect Christians?

Would God actually ignore us for 24 hours?

My first response is my heart aches. I began to have tears build up because I could not imagine God not being there. I do not want to imagine a world without God. In some of my circumstances, He has truly been the sole reason why I've held on.

Now, before I go on, please let me make it clear.....as a mom I am in no way saying we should not have a break. In general, we need a break. For even God rested on the 7th day as stated in Genesis.

This thought provoked deeper thinking within me and reminded me of all the times I just needed some time. Of course, I want a lot more than 24 hours of rest. By the time I arrived at my home, I felt so humbled and thankful that God loves me enough to not take a break. He LOVES me enough to say I am with you every year, every month, every day, every hour, every minute, every second.

No breaks. No timeouts. Just with you.

That is truly powerful. As a human, I cannot honestly say that I have not been there for each person in my life 24/7 whether a family member or friend. I have taken time off and/or separated myself from them. So within my heart something stirred and I felt a little more empathetic towards my sister.

God helped me to realize that in that moment maybe my sister asking for a break is her way of asking for help. A single parent with wonderful family support but maybe not enough. Maybe this break allows her to rest up and recooperate to continue on her journey as a mom.

Should I question that help or her motive?

The answer is no. I should not take a break on her. I should listen with a heart like God to that request and be there not to criticize or belittle her but to say okay, what can I do to help? Regardless if I get the break or not.

I am still in awe of this lesson and humbled that God allowed my heart to be open and receive something from Him.

Per the words of Brandon Heath, let this be our prayer to God today......

Give me your eyes for just one second
Give me your eyes so I can see
Everything that I keep missing
Give me your love for humanity
Give me your arms for the broken hearted
The ones that are far beyond my reach
Give me your heart for the once forgotten

May God open your heart and speak to you.

Melissa