Wisdom Knows When to Take a Break

I am tempted to stop writing after writing the title above. This would be appropriate.

It’s midnight as I begin this entry. I still have a stack of work right where I left it this morning. Scheduled appointments today actually did not go according to schedule. Not many things with this day went as planned, but isn’t that the way it is with many days? I had a short period of time while Wyndham rested this afternoon when I planned to run some errands. That didn’t happen. Yesterday I had to put our 16-year-old dog down, and even though I know it was the right decision, it felt brutal. Today I had a “post-sobbing headache” so attempted to recover from that during the moments I had planned to run errands.

Our son, Sam, came over tonight as is his Tuesday night custom. He comes several times a week to help out with some caretaking needs. Tonight, as Wyndham, Sam, and I were having some deep talks (along with some good laughs) I mentioned that I still needed to finish writing “Wednesday Wisdom With Wyndham” (as is also a Tuesday night custom). Laughing, I said I should just write the words “Wisdom knows when to take a break when needed.” Sam responded in agreement, and Wyndham thought it was perfect.

Then I grimaced, as I don’t “color out of the lines” very well. I like to stick with plans. My plan is to have a post every Wednesday morning. My husband and son smiled, knowing my grimace meant that I’d be up writing for several hours.

Wyndham has the wisdom to know when to take a break. He has done it throughout our life together in order to give his best to God, to me, to our kids, and to the church. I don’t do breaks as well. I tend to keep plowing through. Though this sounds noble, it’s not always wise. Some things have priority over others. Learning those priorities takes wisdom. I have often heard Wyndham use the phrase,” You only have one horse to ride, so you better take care of your horse.”

Wyndham is not an equestrian. In fact, this picture from years ago was from one of only a handful of times he has been on a horse.  My daughter-in-law and I thought our family trail ride (taken after this picture) was too tame and asked our trail leader if we could do some galloping. So, as our horses took off the others followed. The guys did not find this as exhilarating as she and I did. Wyndham said it was one of the most painful events he has participated in and could not understand why I had asked for a most unfortunate change of pace. (He did forgive me, thankfully.)

This phrase about the horse expresses the wisdom Wyndham practiced and shared concerning attention we must give to our spiritual life, our marriage, and our family in order for it to function as God intended.  This also includes our physical bodies. These precious commodities can’t be ignored or taken for granted. If we are negligent in taking care of any of these areas (our horse to ride), the horse will stop and we won’t get very far. Our joy and credibility comes from our example in these areas. We can get so busy taking care of other things (even other people) that we don’t care for our own horse. Life won’t go will then. We will lose the peace we find in Christ, and won’t spread much peace in our relationships. The horse will buck and throw us off, or buckle and lay us out.

As Wyndham’s physical body no longer works as intended, he has prioritized the most important things in life. So, I’m going to learn from Wyndham’s wisdom and sign off for tonight. The post I planned to write can wait til next week. I’ve got a horse to take care of.

²⁸  “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
²⁹  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
³⁰  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)

  
³⁰  The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught.
³¹  Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”          (Mark 6:30-31)