As we waited at a red light, he looked over and, seeing my cell phone in my hand, he swiftly snatched it out of my grip and tucked it under his lap. (Beloved, it gets good, keep reading…)

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Leading up to this weekend I texted my best friends and told them that I was going MIA as me, my love, and my bonus love traveled to Rehoboth Beach for the weekend. I told them that if they needed me, they should text my love and that he would let me know what was going on. Similarly, I told my family to text my besties if something occurred and they needed to reach me. I had set both my work AND personal email accounts to an out-of-office response and I was ready to walk away from any and everything for the 72 hours of this Memorial Day weekend break. Having spent 176 school days (and the last 13 calendar days) in a whirlwind of busyness, I planned on taking the weekend as an opportunity to recenter and reconnect with God… and my sleep.

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I do too much.

When we were driving yesterday I showed my calendar to my bonus love and her eyes widened as she noticed all of the colors and entry points. Y’all, my phone’s calendar has five different email accounts connected to it and there is at least one entry on every single day. In fact, taking a look right now, the next day with no entry at all is Tuesday, June 6th and to be honest, that may be a typo. I’m always on the move but this past weekend was my opportunity to breathe and just be. I needed that reprieve so badly. So when my love snatched my phone away (which was hilarious, by the way; causing all of us to burst out in laughter), I was relieved. He had taken my request for rest seriously and he wanted me to disconnect from every non-essential thing in this world. I’m so extremely grateful for him and his love.

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Beloved, the purpose of today’s message is twofold. On the one hand, today is Memorial Day, the day that we honor the men and women who boldly and selflessly gave their lives in service to this country. Today is the perfect day to sit in a place of reflection, honoring the best of the past and the love for tomorrow. (Never forget that we are the land of the free, because of the brave.) On the other hand- especially today- I want to encourage you all to take the rest that your body and soul needs in order to function at its fullest capacity.

Rest may look different for every person. It may look like running off to a beach with your love or it may look like turning off your cellphone for a potato or two (thank you, love) but whatever rest may be to you, please do it. Rest allows our body and our mind to recharge and be ready for whatever God’s next may be. Rest is necessary and I desire that for you.

I love you, Beloved; you are graced to be well.

Be blessed.