Rest. It’s Part of the Program.
I love naps.
All kinds of naps.
I don’t mean to boast, but I’m actually quite gifted at napping.
Short, power naps.
Long, hibernating-like-a-bear naps.
Those sleepy hours just after lunch.
Or, 10:30 a.m.
What? Sometimes I eat lunch early.
At night, conditions for sleep must be perfect. Sound machine. Total Darkness. Temp at 68 degrees, exactly.
During the day, the dogs can be barking, children bickering and I can have a spotlight aimed right at my face and if it’s 2:00, I can nap.
Strangely neither of my kids liked to nap.
As some kind of not-even-funny joke from the Lord, Coulter quit napping at 2.
I still have nightmares of Barney singing in my dreams because a 30 minute DVD was my only hope for a nap.
He also didn’t sleep through the night until he was 2.
This, obviously, not my fault. Some mothers are just more prone to camping out in a crib, curled up in a pretzel from which my back has never recovered, than others.
In our culture of go-ness, naps are considered lazy.
But I have one word for you.
Italy.
Siesta.
Ok that’s two words.
Is siesta Italian?
One of our trainers used to say, “Rest. It’s part of the program.”
And it is.
God, in his infinite wisdom created a 6-1 pattern of rest when he created us.
Rest. It’s part of the program.
We’re all wired differently. I get that. There’s the “I will rest in the nursing home” group and the “I will rest at 2” group.
For the record, I’m in good company. Margaret Thatcher (although apparently she only slept 4 hours each night so maybe not a good example), Eleanor Roosevelt, President Bush (the first one), Albert Einstein, J.F. Kennedy, Bill Clinton.
Hmm. Seems my fellow nappers are mostly in politics.
Maybe I really should run for president.
My campaign slogan:
“Get over yourselves and just be nice already.”
Kinda catchy, don’t you think?
As a mom, I’m already very good at saying it. I’ve nailed the tone and inflection and I’m sure that America would listen.
Speaking of bickering children have you seen that idea on Pinterest where you put two bickering kiddos in one t-shirt until they can get along.
Well. Here’s what I’m thinking. The next time our elected officials act like children and threaten to shut down the government, I say let’s put ’em in a t-shirt.
Opposing sides must wear a single shirt until they can come to a compromise.
Seriously. My platform is getting stronger every day.
Maybe they’re all just tired. And cranky. They need naps.
And Jesus.
Maybe you’re not a napper. Maybe a cup of tea and a good book. Whatever it is, remember that even our Almighty Father rested.
Are you tired?
Rest. It’s part of the program.
Raising Magnolias 