A few Sundays ago, I was frustrated. What I wanted to do was accept my husband’s offer to take one of our wonderful afternoon drives in the mountains. But I said I couldn’t.
 |
| Zoe M. McCarthy |
Earlier this year, I’d learned my lesson about my Sabbath. I now reserve it for worship, rest, spending time with God, and loving on others. But I’m still figuring out what that looks like. That Sunday, I had planned to prepare something to send to my grandchildren, do my devotional I hadn’t done that morning, and read the Bible Scriptures and commentary for the evening Bible study. We wouldn’t have time before Bible study to enjoy God’s creation on a drive. No. I’d hole up in my room and complete those tasks.
My husband, the man who does most of the housework so I can hole up in my office and work five and a half days a week, accepted my plan, but I sensed his disappointment.
Then realization hit me. In my office five days a week from 5:30 AM to 6:00 PM, I read devotions, pray my lengthy prayer list, listen to God, develop the Bible study I teach (reading the Bible and commentaries), prepare my Sunday school lesson, and then work on my writing and platform tasks.
Did I, the slave driver, expect me to hole up in my office on Sunday because what I was doing was related to the Bible? Did God expect that of me?
And that loving on others, I wasn’t doing much of that on my husband during the week or Sunday.
So, after Sunday school and worship that Sunday, I told John, “Let’s go for that drive.” Traveling through fields, pastures, hills, valleys, mountains, and stopping for a moose munch ice cream cone at a small country store blessed us. We thanked God for the beauty of His earth.
I relished time with my husband, and the drive rested me.
At the evening Bible study, someone always reads the lesson’s scripture aloud. I enjoyed the lesson without the unnecessary pre-work I usually did. And I still put together something for my grandchildren.
We can avoid much anxiety if we tell the slave driver in us to take a rest at least one day of the week.
 |
| About the Author |
A full-time writer and speaker, Zoe M. McCarthy, author of Gift of the Magpie and Calculated Risk, writes contemporary Christian romances involving tenderness and humor. Believing that opposites distract, Zoe creates heroes and heroines who learn to embrace their differences. When she’s not writing, Zoe enjoys her five grandchildren, teaching Bible studies, leading workshops on writing, knitting and crocheting shawls for a prayer shawl ministry, gardening, and canoeing. She lives with her husband in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. Zoe blogs regularly at www.zoemmccarthy.com.
Gift of the Magpie
 |
| Gift of the Magpie by Zoe M. McCarthy |
Amanda Larrowe’s lack of trust sabotages her relationships. The English teacher and award-winning author of middle-grade adventure books for boys has shut off communication with friends and family to meet her January 2 book deadline. Now, in the deepest snow accumulation Richmond, Virginia has experienced in years, Camden Lancaster moves in across the street. After ten years, her heart still smarts from the humiliating aftermath of their perfect high school Valentine’s Day date. He may have transformed into a handsome, amiable man, but his likeability doesn’t instill trust in Amanda’s heart. When Cam doesn’t recognize her on their first two encounters, she thinks it’s safe to be his fair-weather neighbor. Boy, is she wrong.
Purchase link for Gift of the Magpie: https://www.amazon.com/Gift-Magpie-Zoe-M-McCarthy-ebook/dp/B073M8X4YZ/
