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You can’t have missed being bombarded by holiday adverts post-Christmas on TV. Of course, as I was reminded, this is the time of year when people’s attention turns to planning and booking vacations or day trips.
Is it the depths of the darkest winter with the lure of the summer sun, having something special to look forward to or both? Maybe, like me, you are getting good at hitting the mute button when those adverts interrupt our viewing!
So, have you booked your holidays for 2025 yet, or are you a last–minute, spur–of–the–moment person? The well-known phrase ‘A change is as good as a rest’ reminds us that a break in our routine, getting away from it all, can refresh, re-invigorate, and, yes, give us a well-earned rest, too. Maybe these thoughts remind you of special times gone by, places you’ve visited, and memories shared with loved ones.
Holidays – God’s Gift
Rest is a gift given by God and incorporated into the design of our lives and the world around us. Bare frosted fields, empty tree branches without leaves, hibernating animals, and some species of birds that have migrated to warmer climates for the winter all bear witness to this. You may recall times in your life when you’ve maybe tried to work all hours to meet a deadline or get a project completed. Eventually, our bodies tell us to stop and rest!
‘…six days you shall labour and do all your work.’
Exodus 20
Whichever day you have as a rest day, let’s value it and be grateful for the gift of rest. God knows what’s best for us – it’s good to heed the maker’s instructions!
I leave us with some words often said at the Funeral service, pointing us to the glorious rest in eternity for the children of God:
‘Lord, in your mercy, grant us a safe lodging, a holy rest, and peace at the last; through Christ our Lord. Amen.’
Rev Charles Burton
Published in the February 2025 Parish Magazines
Featured image courtesy of Unsplash