Fatigue: The Enemy of Love

Beth tried so hard.

She wanted so much to make Father’s Day really nice and not require anything from me. 

But here’s the problem: We just got back from a vacation two days previously, so we were still catching up on taking care of the house, unpacking, and prepping for Father’s Day.

She planned this great outing where we would bike along the Towpath at the Cuyahoga National Park and take a fun tourist train back to a picnic spot where we would have a nice lunch and cake along with both of our parents.

And yet, she kept an upbeat spirit and a smile on, despite the rushing, dealing with 5 kids, and accommodating family dynamics.  She knows how important it is for me that she enjoy herself as well.  But by the time we got home, and got the kids down for naps and quiet time, she seemed sour.  I thought she was upset about the whole day and that made me upset because I wished we hadn’t done any of it if it just made her frustrated, and so on and so on.

When we finally acknowledged the tension (it was her who initiated again-God, thank you for her), it was none of that.  She was just worn out, tired, and needed a nap.

How many times have we misinterpreted tiredness? 

How many arguments would not have occurred if we had been well rested?

How many hurtful words might we have held back if we hadn’t lost our hesitancy due to being tired?

May this be a challenge to all of us to pursue rest because when it comes to good things, taking care of our own needs always allows us to better meet the needs of others.