Ode to a Nap

Last Updated on March 20, 2018

Oh nap, you are a gift from God—

I feel now I can make it!
When just twenty little minutes ago
I thought I couldn’t take it.

“Nap when your kids nap!” I was told,
And boy, that was good advice.
‘Cause a mommy starting to border on nasty
Is once again being quite nice.

The baby asleep, the preschooler, too
The other two occupied
Meant rest for me; thought I wasn’t that tired…
And then I was out like a light.

Strangely, the day’s looking so much better
And now I can face the last half
Including that crazy dinner hour
Then wrestling and P.J.’s and baths.

For me it’s a sign of knowing my limits
In the midst of my everyday crazies
I know if I take just those sweet little minutes
Everything else looks like daisies.

Well, there you have it. I am a self-confessed napper. And that’s a small breakthrough for me, because sadly, I find a lot of pride in not resting, even working beyond what God’s asked me to do. Sure, sometimes naps can be laziness. But for me, they often mean me resting with some humility and trust. Bring that on, because baby, there’s no tired like motherhood.

“[God] gives to His beloved sleep.” –Psalm 127:1

Do you nap when the baby does? (Did you when your child was little?)

Janel Breitenstein

Janel Breitenstein graduated summa cum laude from John Brown University and began her career with NavPress, where she worked on The Message Bible. After having four children she resumed her professional career (around her momlife) by serving as a writer for FamilyLife. Personal loans. In January of 2012 Janel and her husband, John, packed up their family of six and moved to Uganda to serve with Engineering Ministries International (eMi), an organization that focuses on poverty relief and development, providing structural design and construction management for Christian organizations in the third world. Join us as we all learn first hand, through Janel’s posts, what it’s like to go from suburban America, to answer God’s call in Africa!

agenerousgrace.com | @JanelBreit