Joy A. Mead

Have you ever felt like a character in a Where’s Wally scene—lost among the crowds of people? 

Every Christmas, I traditionally go to the charity shops in November and December looking for jigsaw puzzles for Anna and Luke. We’ve been doing this since the children were little and Luke’s puzzle this year was a Where’s Wally beach scene. 

After the jigsaw puzzle was constructed, we had the fun of searching for Wally, Odlaw, Wenda, and the Wizard. I have to say that I was stumped for a few minutes in finding Wally and Wenda. Thinking they should be spaced out a bit more, I was looking in another section when they were essentially right in front of me the whole time. 

As a mama, sometimes I can feel hidden like the Where’s Wally characters. I am helping organize our home so that the children and Charlie have an inviting place to come home to from work and school. Between nutritious meals, laundry, dishes, cleaning, homework, driving to and from activities, and preparations for the next day, it can feel like there’s little time to focus on anything but our home life, and I am concealed within the familial jigsaw pieces of our lives. And as much as I generally love serving our family, I have needed to take heed from the wisdom in my own Taking Care of Mama motherhood book—that I am equally an important member of my family and my needs do matter as well. 

Reacquainting myself with the section on Rest, I soon realized how much I need to focus on all areas of the word rest—physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. I’ve been burning myself out lately, as many of us do when we are so focused on taking care of our families.

For me, these are the ways I am trying to practice rest. Physical rest looks like getting to bed earlier, which also means I have to start preparing for bed earlier and coming off technology in advance. Mental rest means not looking at the news especially before bedtime and not dwelling on big issues. Emotional rest looks like focusing on the most important relationships in my life and not wasting energy on certain ones which drain me. Spiritual rest means spending daily time with God—not in a regimented way but softly connecting with Him through Bible readings, listening to worship songs, or journaling. 

If you are also feeling hidden in the jigsaw of your family, perhaps you are also in need of some rest, my friend. 

Instead of pressuring yourself into thinking you must “be more and do more” as this is a new year, may I encourage you to start 2025 out with rest…

Rest in who God made you to be.

Rest in his plans for you and be alert to what he might be teaching you in this season. 

Rest in your spirit as you make time for God in your busy days.

Rest in letting go of the control and worries of daily life.

Rest from carrying the heavy burdens for you and your family. 

And if, from time to time, you still feel lost in the sea of people around you and all the needs you try to help fill every day, know in the core of your being that God sees you. 

God truly sees you.

God loves you.

God is always working for good, even if you can’t see it.

God sent Jesus as a forever reminder that He sees you. 

God cares for you. 

And you, dear one, matter. 

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”—John 3:16

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”—Matthew 11:28-30