I stepped out into the sauna that was Saturday morning. My first chance in weeks to get something done without quitting halfway through to run somewhere, grease a squeaky wheel, or wash feet. All worthy endeavors, but my castle was showing wear around the edges.
On a day I could have, and probably should have, slept in, I awoke with a thousand things needing to be done. But counting the thousand is why most of them are halfway done.
Pick one. Just one.
The yard had gotten away from me, the grass nearly waist high in places. Some because of my limited skills of keeping a lawnmower running, others because of rainy days, Thank You, Jesus for the rain.
But evidence of slithery things called this task to the top of the list. A couple of hours later, I was drenched head to toe. My head was listing all the other things I tried to ignore, but my heart reminded me I needed to breathe.
A few moments and a little water later, I was ready to fight another round, at least my mind was.
When focused on a single, somewhat mindless task, there is time to ponder, and to talk with Jesus. Many wait to do that in church, or in a quiet place. I tend to do it with a shovel in my hand.
I asked a lot of questions and heard a lot of answers. But after another hour, I was soaked again, and the only message I heard was slow down. Stop.
My heart reminded me again; I needed to breathe.
The stress of the last few weeks was heavy, and no amount of sweat would make it slip off.
It wasn’t just my lungs, my heart needed to breathe.
As the weekend wound down, I had a chance to catch up on The Chosen Series. At one point, John the disciple leaned over, kissed Jesus on his head and said, “I love you.”
Jesus replied, “I love you too, John.”
And I’m broken.
Tears flowed uncontrollably.
Even as I wrote this, tears welled up. If you get the chance to watch The Chosen – Season Five, let me know if you heard that line too, or was it just for me, in that moment.
My heart took the breath I didn’t know I was holding.
It’s one thing to read the words or know the words. It’s another to hear them spoken.
I pray you will hear them too.
To find that moment.
When Jesus calls your name.
To hear Him say He loves you.
A moment for your heart to breathe.
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