(Jake and Mike, many, many moons ago.)

One of the nicest things about being on the early church schedule is that our meetings are over at noon.  That makes for a long stretch of time left in the day to do things: read, go for a walk, visit the sick…or take a nap. 

I remember when I was a little kid, that taking a nap was the worse thing my Mom would tell me to do.  I hated naps.  There was so much I wanted to do besides sleep!  I have always been a night owl, not requiring much sleep…that’s my story and I’m sticking to it!   I am still not convinced that me taking a nap was totally for my benefit, although I hate to make it sound like I am questioning my Mom’s motives.  There is something about having total quiet in the house that is a blessing to a mom.  She used to say that someday, when I was a grown woman, I would wish that I could take a nap.  Well, as usual…my Mom was correct. 

So it turns out that most of my kids are night owls, so sleep deprivation might just be in the genes.  Tom has grown up to be quite sensible…he usually heads for bed fairly early now that he is getting himself up for Seminary in the morning.  I really admire that in him.  But back to napping.  Somewhere I have some really cute pictures (I will insert later when I find and scan them) of Tom when I was trying to get him to take a nap when he was really little.  He had those mad, sleepy eyes, resisting the suggestion of naptime.  I found him shortly after, bent over a hard, wooden chair, sound asleep.   I guess moms sense when their children need a nap.  Thanks for trying, Mom.

So now I am a grown woman with grown children of my own.  Life gets very busy and things just start to pile up.  There are times when we have to push ourselves in order to get that long laundry list of things done.  Today was the culmination of one of those kinds of weeks…you know, when you have been busy, on top of busier, and there is little relief.  When I walked in the door after church, I announced that everyone was on their own for lunch, and that I was taking a nap.  I was never so happy to seek that rest that had eluded me the night before.

It is almost midnight and so I approach the new day a little happier and more prepared to face the week ahead because I took a nap.  Today was my day of rest!