I Ran Away From Home

Precious husband works hard to provide for this family.  Sometimes that means he works five days in a row. You are thinking most people work five days in a row – right.  Yet around here that means the husband and dad is gone for five full days because he is a firefighter.  We are used to this routine and glad that he is just a drive across town and we can go visit some evenings. 

However, this means that I am home alone with the children those days.  Now that they are older it is not as difficult as when they were all toddlers.  The work load is easier to spread around to many hands.  It also means that I deal with the squabbles and discipline those days.  Sometimes this can make a mom2six weary, frustrated, needing a break.

Leaving Princess daughter at Darling daughter’s house and four boys old enough to care for themselves at home, I run away.   Just a day to stop, sit, and breathe.  The plan was to eat lunch with Precious husband and then sit in the sun at the fire station.  However, a training exercise called husband away for the afternoon.  God has blessed me with an excellent husband, who took me to a quiet, secluded lake behind the fire station. 

In the van there is usually a a bag with a blanket, Bible, book, and journal.  I park and take a short hike to watch the water fall over the spillway.  The water leaps and dashes to the rocks below.     A quiet spot in front of the lake draws my eye so I spread out the blanket, lay down, and gaze toward the heavens.

Tree branches spread their limbs, reaching, growing higher.  Above is a brilliant blue sky, in front of me is a still lake, and the pine straw under the blanket makes a nice cushioned spot to listen and read.  Warblers and cardinals, toads and squirrels sing and chatter softly.   I prop up my feet, open a new book, and enjoy the sun and shade. 

After reading and relaxing for several hours I feel His presence giving me strength to handle the crazy life I am blessed with.  I fold up the blanket and put it back in the bag with the books.  Taking one final look around, it is time to run home.  Run back to invest in the life God has graced me to fully live. 

Father, thank you for an afternoon to play hooky – to focus on being your daughter.  Thanks for Precious husband who opens the gate that leads to the lake.  Thank you Jesus for quiet waters to restore my soul.