Embrace The Journey

He instructed them to
take nothing on the journey
but a walking stick…
Mark 6:8

My husband loves to travel. The other day, when I gathered up the newspaper for the recycle bin, I found the travel sections from three old papers. Because the weather is growing colder and the impending holidays are making us busier, this shouldn’t surprise me. My husband has always coped with life’s demands by daydreaming -and perhaps planning- a trip of some sort.

I’ve shared before that I’m a reluctant traveler. This wasn’t the case when our sons were young and we drove to our chosen destinations. Now that they have married and vacation with their own families, my husband has been more daring with his travel plans. This means that they include airplanes and cramped seating which drives me crazy-literally!

The truth is that I always have a wonderful time once we reach our destination regardless of where it is. Perhaps this is what Jesus was getting at when he sent out his disciples with no luggage and no inhumane seating arrangements. Perhaps he didn’t want anything to keep them from making the most of their travels among us.

Thank you, Dear God, for my persistent husband who continues to plan much-needed times away for us. Bless him with many more wonderful trips and bless me with the courage to embrace his plans and to enjoy this beautiful world and its wonderful people.

©2019 Mary Penich – All Rights Reserved

Rest and Be Grateful

Since on the seventh day God had finished
with the work he had been doing, God rested.
Genesis 2:2

I cringed as I considered all that I had to do. Mike and I had taken off for a few days of much-needed rest up north. We’d returned with a bag of dirty laundry to an inbox full of email and the full calendar we’d left behind. The relaxation we’d felt just hours earlier vanished with the blink of an eye. After filling the washing machine, I decided to see how our outdoor plants had fared while we were away.

As I rounded the corner of our porch, a slight flutter caught my eye. I stopped in my tracks to avoid disturbing a beautiful dove who rested on the edge of our birdbath. Though it was far too cold for her to be here, she rested peacefully. Such visitors usually fly off when I come near. Still, she remained content to stare in my direction. A ray of sunshine caused her feathers to take on a heavenly aura. As I wondered what she was up to, it occurred to me that she might wonder the same about me. When our gazes met, I realized that I hadn’t prayed much that day. The traffic and drizzle during the drive home had distracted me from my usual sense of gratitude. Did this lovely dove intend to remind me to slow down and to express that gratitude? Before she could reply, I resolved to recapture the restful peace which our treks to Wisconsin always bring. Then, I turned my eyes upward and whispered, “Thank you!”

Dear God, be with me as I make a habit of setting aside my to-do list as needed and of thanking you often.

©2019 Mary Penich – All Rights Reserved

It’s Okay To Rest

Teach us to use our days aright…
From Psalm 90:12

I was babysitting for our grandson and heard the mail carrier. I was out of breath when I opened the front door. When he handed me the mail, I wished the smiling man a good day. “Same to you! Now take a minute to relax, young lady. You’re out of breath!” he said. I laughed as my younger grandson joined me in greeting him. “Thanks for the advice!” I replied. “I’ll do that as soon as this little guy takes his nap.” As he headed down the walk, the mail carrier added, “Just pace yourself. That’s how I get through every day!” I waved my thanks, put the mail on the counter and returned to play with my grandson.

As the little guy and I built another tower of blocks, I considered the mail carrier’s suggestion. “Pace yourself!” I repeated. This advice was precisely what I needed to hear that day. When my little grandson succumbed to his fatigue, I nestled him into his crib. Afterward, I eased myself into the recliner. A crazy-busy week lay ahead and I was determined to pace myself through it all. With that in mind, I made a mental schedule of what I had to do each day. That schedule included daily walks. Then I closed my eyes to enjoy a daydream or two. Did I nap as well? When my grandson awoke, I headed to his room with a prayer on my lips: “Thank you for the mail carrier’s advice and for letting me know that, though we all need to use our time well, we also have the right to rest in between.”

Dear God, your timing is always perfect. Thank you for the messengers who remind us to heed your timepieces rather than our own.

©2019 Mary Penich – All Rights Reserved

Rx: Rest As Needed

Sing joyfully to the Lord, all you lands;
break into song; sing praise.
Psalm 98:4

Whenever we find the time, my husband and I drive north to our favorite getaway, a little log cabin in the woods. Though we always leave plenty of work behind us at home, we give in to these much-needed opportunities to relax. Though I always volunteer to share the driving, I’m grateful that my husband usually doesn’t take me up on my offer. It is then that I sit back and enjoy the view beyond my window. Nature never disappoints. In spite of the almost-three-hour drive, we’re surprisingly refreshed when we arrive.

Though we intend to relax, as soon as we settle in, we often tackle projects which we didn’t get to during prior visits. It’s amazing that we usually make at least twice the progress we would have made on similar projects at home. In the end, we laugh at how little we actually rested. Still, we always feel much better than we did before we left home. On one such occasion, my husband observed, “Maybe we don’t mind all of the work at the cabin because we don’t have to do it. We do it because we want to.” How right he is!

Though we can’t pack up and drive north whenever we feel like it, we can all take much-needed breathers. Whether for five minutes or a few hours, we all deserve our rest. Just ask God about that seventh day of creation!

Gracious God, thank you for sharing your joyful Spirit with us. Give us the wisdom to take the time to revive our spirits as often as needed.

©2019 Mary Penich – All Rights Reserved

Relax With God

“Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
Luke 10:41-42

It’s taken me a lifetime to appreciate our need to slow down and to relax a bit. I truly enjoy the natural beauty around me. Still, I sometimes use more energy listing the reasons that I cannot head outdoors than I would’ve spent by actually walking. In the end, I accomplish far less than I might have if I’d been energized by a trek outdoors.

As I contemplate autumn’s arrival, I realize that outdoor opportunities will soon be limited by increasingly cold temperatures. Though I truly enjoy winter’s beauty, I’ll enjoy it firsthand for only a few minutes at a time. I looked away from my keyboard for a moment to respond to the tree outside of my window. It seemed to be waving to me. As I watched, it occurred to me that I must listen to Jesus who told Martha that she worried too much. I must also imitate Mary who sat peacefully at Jesus’ feet. She drew in his every word and all of the affection that came with them.

Today, I’ll ask Mary to move over a bit so I can take my place at Jesus’s feet as well. It’s there that I’ll learn to stop worrying about the cold which may or may not come and I’ll enjoy the warmth of the moment at hand. I’m going to sign off now to go for a walk. I want to wave to that tree outside my window in person.

Generous God, as I set aside my worries, help me to assist others in doing the same. Open our hearts to your infinite love and peace.

©2019 Mary Penich – All Rights Reserved

Always In Good Company

Give thanks to God, for God is good
and God’s mercy endures forever.
Psalm 136:1

I was a little “off” when I woke the other day. I’d enjoyed a string of busy and happily peaceful days. Still, I found myself immersed in sadness. For unknown reasons, my first thoughts that morning were steeped in relatively ancient history. I asked myself, “Why did I wake up with that on my mind?” Though I did my best to focus on happier things, nothing seemed to help. So it was that after breakfast, I bid my dear husband farewell and headed out for a walk.

As soon as I reached the front of our house, I looked back at the ever-present greenery and the colorful annuals Mike had planted this year. They’re prettier than ever and, for a few minutes, they took my mind off of those pesky old memories. As I walked further, I couldn’t miss the flowers which grace so many of our neighbors’ homes. “Thank you, Dear God, for these perfectly placed distractions!!” I prayed.

As I walked on, an uncommonly cool breeze nudged me along the way. “I love the wind, Dear God, because it reminds me that you’re with me.” As I continued on, those bothersome worries faded in the shadow of the beauty around me. Green trees seemed greener than ever. Lush lawns seemed even more beautiful. Every blossom I passed seemed to be in its prime. As I basked in all of this, that breeze continued to nudge me along the way. Finally, I realized that God was with me. Finally, I remembered that God is always with me. Finally, I knew that all would be well. Should those memories emerge once again, God will handle them with me.

Dear God, thank you for your patience, your company and your love.

©2019 Mary Penich – All Rights Reserved