Take time to look around and relax
"Be well-balanced (temperate, sober of mind), be vigilant and cautious at all times; for that enemy the devil roams around like a lion (in fierce hunger) seeking someone to seize upon and devour."
- 1 Peter 5:8 (AMP)
How I love the summertime. Everywhere you look you can see beautiful flowers. Hues of pink, red and white are popping up all over. My neighbor has some type of bright yellow flower blooming in a background of green foliage. Roses - my favorite flower - are climbing their way up branches of many neighborhood trellises.
In a season when many activities are taking place, we can easily get caught off guard and go from enjoyment to the stress of running from here to there. When this happens on a regular basis, we may find ourselves becoming oblivious to our environment.
Although this may appear harmless, living life in a whirlwind of activity doesn't give us the needed rest our bodies require, and robs us of enjoying the beauty of God's creation. Before you know it, we find ourselves devoured by exhaustion and feeling stressed instead of blessed.
Excessive activity is a tool the enemy of our souls uses to get us stressed and out of balance. With my background in nursing, I realize that many illnesses are either caused by or aggravated by stress.
Why not try a little preventive medicine? Take some time to rest this season and let some summer colors captivate your senses. When you walk out the door each day, give yourself a moment to pause and notice the beauty of the surroundings.
At your coffee break, take a few minutes to gaze out a window at the white fluffy clouds. After dinner, take a stroll around the block. It will not only help you to burn off a few pounds, but you will have the opportunity to enjoy the gift of your neighbor's green thumb.
The spiritual principle to balance work and rest was God's original design for a healthy life. God has created a beautiful world for us to enjoy. Wouldn't it be a pity for us to ignore it? So in the midst of our busy schedules, let's not forget to take some time to stop and smell the roses.
• Annettee Budzban is a Christian author, speaker, life coach and nurse. She will be speaking at Panera Bread in Round Lake Beach Thursday, July 23, at 7 p.m. She can be contacted by email at Annetteebudzban@aol.com or calling (847) 543-8413.