3:63 – Everyone To Their Corners

#faithbites #faithjourney corners

I love my family. God has blessed me with a wife, two daughters, three siblings, countless cousins, and friends who are family. There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for them. No matter how much I love them, there is times when I want everyone to go to their corners. Right now, I have my youngest crying at my feet because her ankle hurts. Yes, the same one she was just running on. Then I have my eldest being grumpy about homework. And I’m feeling under the weather. It’s time for everyone to go to their rooms and leave everyone else alone.

Does this make me a bad parent, sibling, friend, or son? I don’t think so. We all need our personal time to recover. No matter how much we love people, sometimes we need to step away to remember that and stop picking on each other.

Scripture

• “But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you. – Matthew 6:6
• But the news about Him was spreading even farther, and large crowds were gathering to hear Him and to be healed of their sicknesses. But Jesus Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray. – Luke 5:15-16
• After He had sent the crowds away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray; and when it was evening, He was there alone. – Matthew 14:23

Reflection

We know it’s not good for us to be alone (Genesis 2:18). At the same time, there is a difference between being alone and seeking solitude. Jesus himself, on several occasions, left the people, including his disciples, to pray. He needed time to reflect, rejuvenate, and be with his Father. This gave him the energy and the spiritual grounding to continue. We all need that time.

Not going out or not wanting to be with people once in a while is ok. There are signs when it’s the right thing to do. Are you getting stressed? Are people getting on your nerves? Maybe everyone is picking on each other more than usually. These are all good signs that everyone needs some alone time. Time to go to your corners.

As I’m finishing up writing, my eldest is putting herself to bed, my wife is getting ready for bed, and my youngest is in her room. I didn’t have to say anything, but everyone knew it was time to go to their own corners.

Challenge

Look for the signs that you need to step away. It’s not forever, just for a bit. It doesn’t mean you love any less or want to do any less. It means you care enough to step back, recharge, and come. The second part of this challenge is that you need to be ok with it. You aren’t being selfish. You are recharging.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we are all so very busy. We often get so tired that we don’t know when to step away. Instead we pick on each other, we make bad choices, and can hurt those we love. Give us the knowledge to know when to go to our own corner. Help us to be OK with that decision, knowing that it is the best thing. When we do step away, let us be in prayer and communion with you. In your name, Amen.