With hectic schedules, meetings to attend and carting children to different activities, some times we just need to carve out a time to rest.   Otherwise, we will simply wear ourselves out.

This used to be my life.  I used to run myself ragged going here and there, doing for every one, and participating in every thing.  It began to take its toll, and finally I decided that it was okay to bow out of some things.  I also learned not to over commit myself, and I learned the value of saying, “No!”

I let myself off the hook.  I took the pressure off.  And I allowed myself to just … be.

Taking on less is really a blessing.  It frees you up for the important things, like spending quality time with your family.

I realized several years ago that while we were busy going, doing, and being involved in almost everything, we were missing out on valuable time together as a family.  Yes, we were involved in a lot of good and wonderful things with our church, but we attended different meetings and activities … separately.  We would go into the church building as a family but soon split up to go our separate ways for the morning, afternoon, or evening activities.  Now that I have freed up our schedule, we are able to do things together as a family.

Take today for an example.  Off we went on a little adventure to a plantation to explore all the Halloween goodness they had in store.  On the drive there, my family and I were able to listen to music together and sing along to our favorite songs.  Once we arrived, we sought out fun things to do like the big inflatable slide that my daughter loved or the hayride through the haunted forest that we also enjoyed together.

Our weekends used to be just as busy as our weeks were, but now we are able to make resting and relaxing a priority.  Although we were on the go today traveling to the plantation, we were spending quality time together enjoying each other’s company in the great outdoors.

Do you make having a time to rest a priority?