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Ellen Mongan offers encouragement to welcome January as a gift: a time to rest and renew.


At St. Joseph’s Church in Macon, Georgia I had a favorite stained glassed window. It was of the Blessed mother sitting at Jesus’s feet with her head resting peacefully upon His knees. I gazed at that window each Sunday and whispered a little prayer from my heart saying, “Jesus, I am exhausted!” This window said 1000 words in my soul as I viewed it. That image remains in my memory to this day.

How many moms can relate to that word picture? Even if you have never been to St. Joseph’s Church you can picture that image of Mary, the mother of God, needing a rest from the everyday routine of life. Moms, are you weary? Is your heart’s desire just to sit a spell and rest your head on Jesus’ knees, crying out to Him, “I am exhausted”?

Let’s face it, Christmas has just passed, and it usually takes a lot of effort to make Christmas happen. I used to say to my prayer partner, Judy, “Christmas is a time of year when we add a whole new life to our already busy and over-committed life.” Judy, a mother of a large family as well, knew just what I meant. It is no wonder that moms may take a nosedive after Christmas into the land of exhaustion and sometimes despair. We welcome January as a gift to recollect, renew, refresh, retreat, and rejoice. 

This year Jesus spoke a word to my heart, and I heard every word clearly.

“Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light." (Matthew 11:29-30)

 

The verse preceding those words is an invitation:

Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)

 

That is an invitation worth accepting from Jesus! Rest is just what the doctor ordered for me, a weary mom. I raised my heart up to Him who knows me and loves me and agreed that I will make January a sabbatical month. Is Jesus inviting you to do the same?

Jesus has called me to slow down many times with words such as, “Take a pause!” or “Slow it down!” and my personal favorite, “That is enough for now!” I guess you could say that I am an overachiever, a Triple-A personality, and have difficulty hearing those words.

 

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I have found in my latter days that I am not in a race to the finish line but rather on a journey to the heart of God. I have learned that for my Heavenly Father, “Obedience is better than sacrifice.” A hearing ear to His voice is more productive than being a worn-out Christian. God does not want us to prove our love for Him but rather to rest our heads on Him and enjoy peace. If you are busy doing you are sometimes too busy to be still and hear His voice.

 

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Is your heart’s desire just to sit a spell and rest your head on Jesus’ knees, crying out to Him, “I am exhausted”? #catholicmom

Maybe you put Jesus on a shelf with the elf during this busy Christmas season. January gives you time to recoup and return to basics. It is a time to reflect on what God is really calling you to do in 2023. Is your walk with Jesus drawing you closer to Jesus than when you first began? Is Jesus just another item on your to-do list?

If your heart is saying, “Stop the world, I want to get off!” then picture yourself leaning on Jesus who just wants to hold you. Picture sitting on Jesus’ lap and throwing your cares not to the wind but to Him. Take your heavy-laden burdens and cast those cares upon Him. He truly cares about you. Jesus wants to make your burdens light if you but take His yoke upon you. You will find it to be light and just your size.

Join me in proclaiming the month of January a sabbatical month. Make your home a place of peace, hope, and love by resting in Him. He will restore your weary soul because He loves you.

P.S. Remember the Christmas season doesn’t end until January 9, 2023, the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. Our tree will be up until then!

 

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Copyright 2023 Ellen Mongan
Images: Canva