Saturday, March 14, 2015

Rest

When Betsy was younger, before we had her asthma figured out, there were some long and terrible nights. She coughed. Miserably.  I felt helpless. Sleep wouldn't come although we had given her each and every medication that the doctor had approved. There was water on the nightstand, available for sipping. A cushy, cozy bed. Extra pillows that propped her troubled head and eased the air flow to her lungs.

Still she coughed.

And so I turned to the last weapon in my arsenal. I'd snuggle up beside her and she'd rest against me. I held her close, stroked her hair. Sometimes I sang. I was simply there. And she rested. It startled me every time, that my mere maternal presence eased her breathing, relaxed her limbs, opened a clenched fist, left her small mouth slack in sleep. A sweet reprieve it was, for both of us.

Sometimes I am like my daughter.  I have followed my prescription and everything is in its place. Bits and pieces of life have been comfortably settled, readied to deal with any situation that may arise. The water glass, the cool pillow ... we have done our best.

But my restlessness can be calmed by only one thing -- it is the presence of my Father that I need. I do not need any "thing" that He can grant me. I need only to rest in His arms, and that is my consolation. That is the sweet reprieve I need to wake up tomorrow and rise to another day.

6 comments:

Faith said...

Beautiful! Lately, I have been waking up feeling anxious. There is this cloud over me that wakes me and makes me kind of whimper and worry as I begin each morning. Then I sit and pray a novena. I found this little book of novenas cleaning through some boxes one day. There is something about the old fashioned language, the simplicity, the constant begging God to help, that eases my mind. It really is like a child seeking solace from their mommy.

Karen Edmisten said...

Thanks, Faith. It's so easy to become anxious, isn't it? I love old novenas, too, and also the perpetually helpful words from Padre Pio to "Pray, hope, and don't worry." Easier said than done, but just sinking into Divine Arms helps. :)

Cay Gibson said...

Found myself looking for the Like button. Lol

sarah said...

So beautiful. Such simple, good, motherly wisdom.

tanita✿davis said...

You have a lovely way with the truth. And now I must drag out my Mendelssohn and listen to O Rest in the Lord.

Karen Edmisten said...

Tanita, what a lovely thing to say. Thank you. And thank you, too, Sarah, Cay, and Faith for your lovely words as well!