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Rest, Not Stressed

The word "vacation" brings many thoughts to mind:
The mad scramble to call shotgun, which gives the victor power over the music player and the air conditioning, as well as a lovely view while not having to sit next to a sibling. Calling "Dibs!" before the others in the hotel room at midnight, claiming dominion over the bed closest to the A/C and the view of the busy nightlife outside. Then the exhaustion after only the first day of vacation, winding every person to a bit of a temper and mood.
I don't know about you, but my "Vacation" definition is usually "more than two days out of the house". That is the only requirement. It doesn't seem to matter where my vacation venue is, whether it's a trip to grandma's house for Thanksgiving, a weekend working at a homeschool convention, or even a sleepover at a friends house. Anything that takes me out of my normal routine is a vacation in my mind.
As for my friends, the beach is a popular vacation spot, along with Disneyland, DisneyWorld, New York, and Hawaii. But with those vacation spots comes rigorous planning and scheduling, packing everything you might possibly need, and preparing several months in advance.
Now, I'm not saying these aren't bad vacation spots. They're great. I'm not saying that I am not a packrat who always takes more than I'll ever need "just in case". I am.

We scramble because we waited to pack until day-before. No one gets along in the car. The other drivers are reckless. The weather is bad. The vacation spot is packed and overwhelming.
But, then there is the stress we put on ourselves: We pack our days full of things to do hour-by-hour so that we don't find ourselves with that awful taboo-feeling of being "bored" on vacation. We beg for everyone else's happiness so that that they don't ruin our vacation. We spend the whole time thinking about how soon it will all end and we have to go home.
So, how can we rest, not stress?

1. Do not focus on circumstances. Stress is about how we process our circumstances.
We've all gotten stressed by a vacation-companion not doing their "fair share" of packing, planning, or panicking. Yes, we get stressed if we're the only ones panicking about vacation. Remember the things I mentioned before about how we put stress on ourselves? Those are all circumstances. And it pushes us to our breaking point of stress.
In Luke 10:38-42, we read about Mary and Martha: Two sisters who have Jesus come over to their house. One is so busy working, stressing, and hoping the place is clean enough for the Lord. The other calmly rests at Jesus's feet and listens to His words. Martha was so stressed over the circumstances of her sister not helping with the housework, and she was left to question: "Does Jesus even care?"
Don't spend vacation stressing over how other people aren't helping you. Stress is a reaction. It's not what they are/aren't doing. It's how you react to it. Remember: You control what you dwell on. You can't change your circumstances, but you can change your perspective.
Take vacation one thing at a time, in the perspective of finding the right thing to focus on. Rest at God's feet, rest in His promises, and listen to His Word.

2. Discipline yourself to rest! Even on vacation!
I know. Resting is NOT easy. Stress is easy. Hebrews 4:9 promises "There remains therefore a rest for the people of God." The key is in Hebrews 4:11. The key is Diligence.


Be diligent to enter into the rest!
During your vacation, remember to set aside time to rest at His feet and listen to His words.
If you'd like, set aside a whole day during your vacation to spend at a park or beach, simply resting and listening to His words.

3. Set aside anxiety and take on a burden that's light
In Matthew 11:28-30, we are offered a new burden. A trade for our thoughts, our worries and our heavy burdens for one that is light. One that is shared by the Prince of Peace.
Stress is a normal thing these days, but we can change that. In this rest, we can have a vacation every day.

4. Make your vacation about someone else
It's nice to be on vacation, but it's always nice when we can focus on something other than ourselves. But the little things you can do for other people can make your day! Let someone go first on a ride at the park. Buy someone else an ice cream cone, or buy someone else dinner while you're out. Just like the little things you do to treat yourself on vacation, those little things can make someone else's day better! Then, in turn, making someone else's day makes your day!
There are many other things you can do to make your vacation restful, not stressful. Take a day off, help someone else, find the positive, plan little special things and not only huge events, and take it one thing at a time.



Let me know, by commenting below, things that you do to have a restful vacation! :)

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