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10 Minutes Peace
by Susan McGrath
Perhaps it’s my Type A personality, or maybe it’s just a mom thing but I tend to always choose the responsible route, do the right thing, push the fun stuff to the back of the closet.
Recently I had a paper due for a master’s class I am taking and I had put off writing it until the last minute. When I was down to less than 48 hours I began to look for excuses – laundry to fold, dishes and kids to wash, CDs to alphabetize. The more I thought about it the less I wanted to write that paper.
Finally inspiration struck: I was too tired to think clearly enough to write a paper so I should give myself a pedicure instead!
Let me preface this by saying this is something I never do. I just don’t take the time. But a few months ago I received a manicure/pedicure set in a really cool striped case complete with hot pink polish. (Also something I never do.)
I weighed the options: paper or pedicure; stay up writing and make my eyes and my brain hurt or pamper myself and paint on the hot pink polish. I was leaning heavily toward the pedicure when I remembered I am a responsible mother of two who always honors commitments and turns in assignments on time. I was also afraid I would be so tired I would get hot pink polish on the carpet.
I wrote the paper. So much for carpe diem.
Jesus says in Matthew href="/desk/search.cgi?q=mt+11:28">Matthew 11:28, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."The pedicure might have been a temporary reprieve from the responsibility and work of my assignment, but I would have had to face it again in the morning and probably would have kicked myself with my beautiful hot pink toes over waiting ‘til the last minute.
Sometimes the things God calls me to do are tiring and I want to hide from them by keeping busy with meaningless tasks. But He has a reward for all of us who complete our assignments – an eternal rest.
Still, if I had to do it again I might just go for the pedicure.
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a recovering journalist trying to encourage others and glorify God through writing;
living the small-town life with husband Tim and sons Lincoln, 12, and Sawyer, 6;
completing a few put-off writing projects while using chocolate for therapy.
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