Attached is a picture of my 5-year-old grandson Theo reading a newspaper at the beach. Let me explain. I took this photo during a party at our house. The whole family was there and as you might guess, there was a lot of excitement, a lot of noise, and a lot of people gathered in the living room. I noticed that I had not seen Theo for a while, so I went to check on him. I’ve lost track of grandkids before and found them coloring –  and it wasn’t in a coloring book. But, that’s a story for another day.

I found Theo in an extra living area in our home. He was quietly sitting in a rocking chair, his hands were holding an imaginary newspaper, and he was nodding his head from time to time as he pretended to turn the pages of the newspaper. I watched long enough to take in the scene and snap a couple of pictures before I said, “Hi Theo. I was looking for you. What are you doing?” Theo replied, “Hi Papa. I am sitting in a chair, reading a newspaper at the beach, with my toes in the sand.” I said, “That sounds relaxing.” Theo turned another page and said, “It is. You should try it.” So, I did. We sat there for a while, away from all the hustle and bustle going on in the other room, just relaxing, reading our newspapers at the beach with our toes in the sand. And Theo was right. It was very relaxing. After a few minutes of having our toes in the sand, we were ready to rejoin the party.

Oh, my goodness, I love that boy. I also love the fact that at a very early age, Theo has learned to take some time for himself, to take a break, and get away for a while from situations that may be too loud, too noisy, or overstimulating. That is a good reminder for me. Maybe it is a good reminder for you too. The Bible says in Proverbs 4:23

Proverbs 4:23 Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.

So, don’t hesitate to take a break from time to time. Don’t neglect self-care. Investing in yourself allows you to be able to pour more freely and richly into the lives of others. And let’s face it. We all need some time to relax in a chair, reading a newspaper at the beach with our toes in the sand… even if it is just in the other room.