Sometimes you just need a day off. Today I got one; my own little personal mental/spiritual health day. I’d been feeling like I wanted to take one a some point over the summer, but most of my PTO days are already accounted for in planned trips/holidays. But God, in His amazing goodness, provided — via my bosses who gave our little team a paid holiday. What a blessing!

I woke up several times during the night/morning to the beautiful sound of rain. It was the first night all month that was cool enough to have the windows open, so the sound was even more beautiful to hear than just the tapping on the roof. I could hear it dancing on the grass, the trees, and the wooden deck.

I slept till I wasn’t really sleepy then spent the rest of the morning sitting by my corner windows, in my dad’s chair, reading and listening to a thunderstorm roll through. It was the most amazing, wonderful morning I’ve had in ages; the perfect weather, and the perfect morning. I didn’t budge from my perch by the windows till after noon, when hunger finally drove me to the kitchen in search of sustenance.

I’ve spent most of the rest of my day reading, and swinging on my porch swing and just watching the world go by.

It’s days like today that I wish time would just stop and let me soak it all in; the beauty all around me, the comfort within my home, the peace and serenity of solitude…. Alone with God and not afraid. Alone with God and not confused. Just alone with God and soaking it in.

I needed today. More than anyone (but God) could have known. Certainly I didn’t know how much I needed to just be silent, and to silence the noise in my soul. No homework, no recovery work, no work-work, no doings, no performance, no busy-ness, no agenda to accomplish, no to-do lists to get through… just rest, silence and restoration.

There really is a God who can, and will, restore me to sanity if I will but let Him. Today I think He did.