Blessed.

Grateful.

Content.

These are my three favorite words right now as I wake up in bed from a nap cuddling with my napping two-year old baby girl. The appetizing smell of freshly baked granola and bread is in the air. My husband has been busy in the kitchen—taking a quick break from work to help our family be ready for the winter storm that is predicted to come at 9 tonight and is expected to last till Thursday night. We already have some other kinds of food prepared should the power goes out but hopefully it does not.

Since I had covid late last year, I’ve been taking time to nap almost every day. My body just need it. If I don’t nap, I’d be in bed at 6:30pm with my daughter just like my daughter when she misses her nap. I’ve seen the value of power naps and it’s something I believe helps me function best as a mom and as a wife. If I nap then I can stay up till 9 or 9:30pm and get a decent sleep.

Life before the baby is definitely different after having one. I used to have all the energy and strength to do everything without taking a nap or going to bed early.

But that has changed.

Daily I have to ask the Lord to give me the strength to get through the day. Yes, that does not only pertain to spiritual strength but also mentally, physically, and emotionally.

Before covid, I would take a nap once in a while but I noticed that when our baby girl shifted to one nap a day and that’s after lunch, I would also snooze with her and that seemed to charge my batteries but there were days or many days that I would resist the desire to nap because “I have many things to do” that I can never do when the baby is up.

Boy, was I wrong to do that? I was.

Someone wise told me to rest while the baby rests. I didn’t listen to that advice. “How can I get all these things done (cleaning/decluttering, dishes, laundry, cooking, etc) if I followed that advice?” I thought to myself. So because I was so stubborn and was trying to be superwoman I was always tired and started indulging negative thoughts and even suffered from anxiety.

Mercy.

Yes, I needed God’s mercy and I still need it—lots of it.

Truth be told there’s gem in that advice that a friend of mine told me. Taking time to rest actually allowed me to be a happy, content, and cheerful mom. It also has allowed me to be patient, loving, and understanding. It has also allowed me to stay on top of things—for the most part. Why? It’s because my nervous system is functioning the way it should be.

My friends, do not underestimate the value of rest. God has gifted us with rest for our own benefits. Enjoy the daily rest and the weekly rest He’s given us.

Yes, there’s tons of things to do. THERE ARE ALWAYS TONS OF THINGS TO DO. But learning to prioritize is a key.

I grew up in a home where it has to be always neat, clean, and tidy. It has to be because we always had guests considering the kind of ministry and the line of work that our family chose to do. Also because we just enjoyed having people over. So I brought that mindset with me in my personal life and now, family life.

But our house is not always neat, clean, and tidy. There’s certain hours of the day that the playroom looks like a hurricane just hit it or the living room has turned into a playroom or the laundry has piled up in our guest room bed or the dishes haven’t been washed or food not put away but we try our very best that before the day ends, the house is in order so that we can function well the next day. We try to stay on top of it and we praise God for His help. My husband and I have an “unspoken” agreement on which chores to tackle individually and/or together.

Personally, as a mom and a wife, there are five things that we need to manage each day and the rest can be taken cared of when we have time. But these five (in no particular order) are important: cooking, dishes, laundry, declutter, and baby care. If we stay on top of these five things. It’s a win, baby.

So dear mommies, what are you waiting for? Give that gift of rest a try. Nap if you need to. Go to bed early. (Just don’t go to bed as early as 6:30pm because I tell you the possibility of waking up at midnight is high. I did it. I did it last night. We had such a long day. Bethany and I missed our naps and by the time 4:30pm came we were ready for dinner, 5:30pm for bedtime routine, and by 6:15pm we were snoozing! So guess what I did when I woke up—decluttered! Yes, at midnight. I also did my evening worship. Oh, and a little bit of baby care! Haha. Who says you didn’t need baby care at midnight? Well, in very rare occasions Bethany woke up mumbling something she’s super excited about, asked for water, and told me she’s awake. She played with her dolly for a few minutes and we both went back to bed after. We still feel rejuvenated in the morning by God’s grace.)

Matthew 11:28-30

[28] Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. [29] Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. [30] For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. “

So is it okay for mommies to nap? Definitely!

P.S. We encourage the use of the playroom for play time but last night was an exemption. We were both tired to play in the playroom and so we decided to play on the bed and used a book to stabilize the blocks. ☺️