Reprieve
A weekly reprieve is no longer a luxury for me, but a must - for health, for love, for longevity and for sheer sanity.
Traditionally, of course, Sunday has been the day of rest for many. A Sabbath rest, the Bible suggests, actually commands, of His Beloved. You know, a lot of people pick and choose verses to follow and I’m no exception, but this one commandment I think we can all agree is a keeper.
It’s either taken me 59 years to come to this conclusion, or my body is forcing me to be a believer. I am currently a multi-app ‘gig’ worker. A ‘gig’ as defined by the Oxford Dictionary is a job, especially one that is temporary or freelance and performed on an informal or on-demand basis. You might think a full day free of gigs is not a necessity, but I am here to tell you that thought couldn’t be further from the truth.
My gigs include online teaching, grocery shopping / delivery, and writing. They are a melody of my likes and skills. They are rewarding, fun and fulfilling, but they sure aren’t building my investment portfolio.
My ‘gigs’ match my core values. More on that another day….
I often wonder if I would be happier in a corporate setting, with a bigger bank account and company perks. Well, lately, I think that ship has sailed, or at best it’s far from shore. I love what I do, and it is ideal in this season of my life.
“Choose your hard,” they say. I like that quote. Although it is coined by Devon Brough, in his poem by the same name, many others use this phrase without crediting him, but also without claiming authorship. Interesting. As a fellow writer, I’ll thank Devon here.
You see, I have a tight budget, and retirement is a fictitious tale to me. What I do have and have had over the years is quality time. I chose my hard. Homeschooling, travel, and family dinner at 5 o’clock was our priority.
Things have changed some now with our age and health. Care takes money, and lots of it. It’s a balancing act, I know. I need to be home now, taking care of things, and people, and me. And likewise, I need to increase my contribution more and more.
It’s ok. I trust the divine timing of all of the above, and I will work, and I will rest. I believe true productivity comes after you are healed, restored and whole. So, when panic tries to set in, or doubt or tears, I will remain steadfast in my decision. I will not forsake my weekly reprieve, and I will reap the fruit of that choice.
Lesson learned.
The practice of Sabbath is a non-negotiable for me. Give it a try. Rest is medicine. It will calm you, tame your thoughts, and clear your mind. It is from that pitcher; you can properly pour.
Thank you so much for supporting my work and sharing my link if you feel lead. Our family is so grateful. Enjoy!!
LOVE!
Stephanie Connors
