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Many
sorrows come to the wicked, but unfailing love surrounds those who trust the
LORD. So rejoice in the LORD and be glad, all you who obey him! Shout for joy,
all you whose hearts are pure!
(Psalm 32:10-11 NLV). From time to time I receive responses
from the devotionals I write. One recently really caught my attention. The gist
of the devotional was that many of us need to learn how to play more. This
reader wrote: "I [thought] just this morning about how much I am NOT having
fun. It is not easy to totally relax. There is so much to do, too much at stake.
I am a full-time worker with two kids, ages three years and six months, and also
a part-time student in a graduate degree [program]. It is not easy to have fun.
... I am going to ask God to teach me to play and have fun..." Not a bad
idea at all! I
had to laugh one day at an error message that came up on my computer: "Your
system is low on virtual memory." I'm not sure what virtual memory is
exactly but I sure know when my human memory isn't working. Lack of
concentration and memory is one indicator of overloaded circuits. This is not
just a problem in North America. From overseas a man wrote: "Though I live
in a small country in Europe, I think the problem of middle-age men with a
profession, family, and any other duties can be very similar. Your devotional
gave a small light in our busy lives." Then
from the heartland of North America, Ohio, a woman writes, "I am an Amish
widowed mother of seven children. My husband died October 9, 2001. So my days
sometimes seem all uphill. But sometimes it goes better. My children are ages
16, 14, 12, 10, 7, 4 and almost 2." (And I thought I was busy!) Another
woman wrote, "This was just what I needed to hear. I work 40 hours a week
(with my job currently transitioning into a new, more responsible position),
have a large sales business on the side, and am a single mom that commutes 1-1
½ hours each way to work." She had just decided to give up her side
business even though she really enjoyed it, because, "Both my full-time
position and my family were suffering. It's time for me to play." So,
this morning I decided to encourage you again to put a little play into your
schedule! Why not take a day this week and declare for yourself a mini-vacation,
right at home. Any day will do. Just sit and watch the dog, or butterflies, or
birds, or flowers. I would suggest not even reading or watching TV for at least
a part of your mini-vacation. Force yourself to do nothing, and be still with
your thoughts. If
you have small (or even older) children, take time to do nothing but play with
them. Hang out with your teenagers: if they can't stand silence, lounge in their
room if they'll let you and listen to their music, or watch them play a computer
game. These are all little ways to wind down and relearn the restorative power
of play. All work and no play really will make you “dull.” It takes away
your strength to rejoice!
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