THE ACCIDENT

“Come to me and I will give you rest—all of you who work so hard beneath a heavy yoke.”

~Matthew 11:28 TLB

The laptop flew from my hands as my body fell forward onto a concrete landing.

On impact, I sprained one ankle and felt a bone snap in the other. With my grandson’s help, I hobbled down the remaining stairs to the car. How ironic that this event occurred on Thanksgiving Day.

MY JOY

This trauma could have thrown me over the edge. But as I lay on the stone surface, I thanked God. My reaction may seem odd, but at that moment, I realized the injury provided what I struggled to achieve: rest. I allowed my job to consume me twenty-four hours a day. Time with God had taken a back seat. With nothing in the reserve tank, I ran on fumes, living life under my control. The pressures of work overpowered my physical, emotional, and spiritual energy and crippled my strength. I had ignored the pressures for too long.         

My character reminded me of Martha in Luke, chapter ten. She was a task-oriented person who wanted everything in perfect order. She worked hard on her ministry and hospitality while her sister, Mary, had other priorities.

RECENTERING

But the Lord said to her, Martha, dear friend, you are so upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and I won’t take it away from her.

~Luke 10:41-42 NLT

During my three-month recovery, I focused on restoring the one thing that truly mattered: my relationship with my Father in Heaven. A God-life balance is vital. Only through Him can we find the strength and stamina to survive the challenges of this life. If I was on my knees all along, I doubt I would have fallen.

Are you overwhelmed with responsibilities? How can re-centering yourself on God help you set priorities?

Father in Heaven, You know the daily struggles I face. Help me find a balance between day-to-day life and my time with You. Let Your Spirit take control and strengthen every cell of my being. May I never forget that You are always at my side. In Jesus’ name, amen.

 

Genre: Non-fiction 

Copyright 2021: Break Time: Irene Wintermyer: All Rights Reserved