Vacation – Love it!

Vacation: the change in location, schedules, meals, activities, and all the excitement is great, but it makes me begin to think I’m overwhelmed, I’m drowning in overstimulation, I’m loving it and at the same time, needing a pause button.

I have found that the peace and quiet, slow and purposeful, time we spend as a couple is non-existent in our children’s lives as they meet the individual needs of their children. I sometimes feel sorry for them. Then I remember how it was when they were young (and we were younger, too!). We didn’t know anything else other than to keep going and to get it all checked off the list of things to do. Now, we have come to realize we can say ‘no’ and we can pause and reflect, and take things at our pace, not theirs. Life is wonderful!

As a result of spending time ‘vacationing’ with so many family members and friends, I hope I’m not getting cranky, overtired, or down-right difficult. I might even be a bit ineffective, as a wife, mother, grandmother or most of all, as a Christian! Thankfully, I know that I can (and need to be sure I do) enjoy the vacation.

Whether it be the mountain air, rushing rivers, kids soccer, family dinners, or meeting with friends, I need time to separate myself for all the fun and listen to my husband, and of course my Father. You see, if I want to focus on what God is trying to say, then I need to drown out some of this vacation activity and not drown in it! Quietness comes in the night, whether it be 1000 pm, 1100 pm or even later. During that time I have found it is when I rest in the quietness and talk with the Lord.

There is a verse I want to share with you….
"I will listen to what God the LORD will say; he promises peace to his people, his saints — but let them not return to folly." Psalm 85:8

In the Old Testament, the Psalms speak of peace as a gift for those who seek the Lord. Walking in His ways provides that peace. We can have the peace that passeth all understanding! The New Testament depicts Jesus, himself, often drawing away – drowning out the busyness and distractions which seem to interrupt Him daily. He withdrew to be with His Father, to pray or to a quiet location, probably to refocus and gather Himself together when the throngs of people continued to need Him and pull Him in many directions. Jesus sought peace.

In the verse (above) we see two things: 1. We need to listen to God and, 2. He promises peace. We have a responsibility to listen (hear). When we speak to our own children, we ask them to listen to us, and we expect them to give us their undivided attention to make sure they hear us. We, too, are like children. We need to stop, focus and hear from God. Then and only then, can we have the peace He promises.

This furlough (vacation) has been a whirlwind of activities, and yet I need the quiet time to hear from the Lord and to have peace. I’ve not been very successful at doing this. There always is something to do, someone to see, someone to play a game with, or someone wanting me to scratch their back. When evening falls, and later the night sets in, the quietness returns. Children and grandchildren are all snug in their beds. I curl up with Don and soon hear him falling into a deep sleep. Finally, time alone with the Lord. It isn’t much more than an hour or so later, I look one last time at the clock and begin to fall asleep. Vacation – love it!