God and I have this understanding. When I get a common cold (although I’m a big baby with an unhealthy aversion to taking medicine of any kind so it’s hardly what I would call common), I take it as a cue to slow my life down.

I’m pretty laid back by nature. I spend most of my days at home, only allowing for a few appointments each week. Being an introvert, I realized early on that I needed lots of time to refuel if I was going to make much of a difference in this world. You won’t find me writing many posts about how I’m overbooked and running around all crazy. I like my calm. 

But oh, how I want to make a difference! That’s why I started writing here. Being a follower of Jesus Christ has made such a difference in my life. It seems people in our world are getting further and further away from a life of faith, including those sitting in our church pews on Sunday morning. Every time I write, I want to remind my readers that God is still at work all around us.  

For years now, I’ve been pouring into the lives of those around me. Even on the days I don’t leave home, I’m lifting up prayers on your behalf all day long. I’m determined to make social media, or at least my little corner of it, a place for good and encouragement. I still believe in the power of a written card, so I prayerfully send those out from time to time. I’m a full-time student of God’s Word. The more I try to do good in Jesus’ name, the more God shows me there’s more to do. Didn’t Jabez call that expanding his territory? As a blessing. (I Chronicles 4:10)

And it is.

I love putting words down here. The ideas keep coming and so do the opportunities. In talking with many of you, I know your hearts long to do good as well. We see the suffering of a fallen world, and we want to share our Jesus with all the people.

Which brings me back to my common cold. It came on fast and furious this past Friday. A gift from our daughter. Thank you very much.

Saturday came around and I saw my opportunity. My husband took our daughter to his parents for an overnight visit. He stayed for a while to help with some projects. Meanwhile, I put my phone on the charger and hit the couch. The animals, mercifully, kept themselves quiet. Must have been too cold outside for coyote or deer or any such creature to do much stirring. I took a nap for a whole hour. When I awoke, I got up just long enough to make a cup of tea. Then I went right back to the couch.

Even though we only have a TV antenna, I picked up the remote and flipped through our dozen or so channels. I found a chick flick! Unbelievable for a random Saturday afternoon. For 90 minutes, Jesus and I just sat around mindlessly watching a movie. Sometimes it’s not about praying and seeking and working so hard to be still in order to hear His voice. On this particular Saturday afternoon, we just rested. 

Bonus weekend! I had two days of Sabbath rest.

In Eugene Peterson’s The Message, he paraphrases these words from Jesus:

Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly. (Matthew 11:2-30)

So much of the time, even when I’m home, my mind is racing. I have a to do list. Don’t we all? But when I got this cold, I found my window of time (sometimes it might only be 15 minutes or so but let’s take what we can get) and cared for my body. I shut my mind down. You guys, I didn’t even read a book all day on Saturday! It was about true rest. It didn’t miraculously cure my cold, but I’m positive it helped. On many levels.