Best. Gift. Ever.

Yesterday, in honor of Labor Day, our pastor briefly discusses the origins of the holiday. After touching base on unions and other political reasons for its beginnings, he then went on to speak of the scriptures and what God's word says about work.

I did not write down each passage, but I know that each one talked about the importance of work, providing for the needs of a family, etc.

Something like 1 Timothy 5:8...

But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

There was one more key element, however. An element that I am so glad he addressed.

God designed us to work, but He did not intend for us to never have a time of rest. A time to feel refreshed. A time to be away from the daily grind. We are not to be workaholics.

Exodus 23:12

Six days you are to do your work, but on the seventh day you shall cease from labor so that your ox and your donkey may rest, and the son of your female slave, as well as your stranger, may refresh themselves.

Now this scripture is from the Old Testament, from a different culture and a different time, but the concept is still something that God wants us to take to heart. To have a day of rest. A time of rejuvenation!

Even God Himself rested on the seventh day! :o)

So all of this got me to thinking. When does a stay-at-home mom have time for such rest? If I am with the kids all day, I am still with them in the evenings as well. I am with them on the weekends. I tend to their needs 24/7. I am on-call every night. And while Josh tries to take turns with me, sometimes only mom can make things better.

I conveyed this to my dear husband, and he then said the most wonderful words to me. I still can't believe it:

"Why don't you go out to your parents house tonight? Sometime this evening after dinner. Just go spend time with your mom and dad and sleep all night long."

My face lit up. You would have thought someone just told me I had won an all-expense paid trip to Cancun.

A time of rest. A time of rejuvenation. I was so excited!

So that's what I did. I left around 7:30 pm, I gave each my my sweet children a kiss, and then I kissed Josh goodbye. I thanked him for his willingness to watch the kids all night and thanked him for recognizing that this would be something that I would cherish.

It was exactly what I needed. I visited with mom and dad. We watched a funny episode of "Coach"...a show that always brings out big laughs from my dad. I even took a nighttime trip to Wal-Mart with my mom to pick up a few things for our Labor Day BBQ.

I was in bed by 10:00 pm. I slept all night. I woke up feeling ready for whatever the day would bring!

What a precious gift my husband gave to me. And I am so thankful.