Rest before you get tired

Two uninvited guests arrived in Florida before our family vacation: Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton. Hurricane Milton (had the audacity) to arrive just two days before we were scheduled to arrive in Orlando.

Jennifer has great foresight, and it was her idea to only share certain plans with our boys 24 hours before an event or excursion. She believes this strategy helps reduce or eliminate disappointment in case there is a change of plans. I prefer this method because I don’t have to hear “When are we going to Orlando?” for 60 days in a row!

Thankfully, our family trip was not delayed or canceled. We were able to enjoy the trip and each other.

Though it was not a very long trip, it was just what we needed. It was just what I needed.

We ate a lot. We saw a lot. We did a lot. It cost a lot! But, Jennifer and the boys gave me something I didn’t know I needed…rest.

I was tired. I was exhausted. I was drained. I was honestly burning out, but I didn’t say anything to Jen. I was present, although I had a problem.

Question: have you ever been PRESENT, but you had a PROBLEM? That’s another conversation for another day…

We were at the hotel pool and Jen gently said three words I needed to hear: not I love you (although those are three words she says often). Jen said, “You can rest.”

I reclined in a chair by the pool. It took a while, but I cleared my mind of everything and everyone. I slept for hours and felt brand new when I woke up.

I sat, I slept. I rested, and I recovered.

Sit-Sleep-Rest-Recover (SSRR) is my suggestion for you as well.

You are a problem solver; a leader worth following; a person of value to humanity. And I must remind you of something:

The best educators are rested educators.

The best students are rested students.

The best parents are rested parents.

The best preachers are rested preachers.

The best leaders are rested leaders.

We need you to rest to be your very best.

Rest before you get tired.