Peas and Quit

When I was in college, I had an older roomate who was an elementary school teacher. She was grading papers one night - a writing exercise involving Christmas lists. One child in her class had written down peas and quit (translated to mean peace and quiet) as something they were hoping for. Lol.

I believe you can find peas and quit no matter what is going on in your life, but it ain't always easy. In fact, for me, right now, it's presenting quite the challenge. I am trying to find a way to slow my life down and keep my moody uterus calm enough that I don't go into preterm labor. For now this means no lifting, no heavy cleaning, no carrying (as in 17 month olds :S), no stress and as much rest as possible. It became clear to me yesterday (as I spent 1 1/2 hours helping facilitate during Drew's grueling physical therapy session) that the time had come to take these restrictions seriously. I have had 2 babies born preterm and with complications because of my "irritable uterus". Let me tell you, that's not the only thing that's irritable right now! But, I am trying to make peace with the situation I am in. It's going to take a lot of humilty and letting go, something I'm not very good at.

I've experienced peace and contentment in my life. Let's see if I can conjure up some images for you:

It's spring and I'm at the top of the Grand Canyon looking over as much of the earth as I've ever been able to take in at once.

It's a quiet early summer evening and we are having a BBQ with our neighbors. The kids are jumping from one kiddie pool to the next and the adults are deeply enjoying the last evening breezes Springtime has to offer. The smell in the air, one of my favorites, consists of grilled hotdogs and marshmellows.

It's early morning and the sun has just begun it's rise. It's just me and the sound of a few birds next to the river where we'd camped the night before.

I'm out for a walk, at about midnight in Provo, UT, and the snow is falling, dampening the sound of everything but my fresh footprints.

I'm hoping this opens your own imagination to experiences where you've felt at peace and content. My experiences will be my imagery for the next few months, but these verses will be my mantra (for I know that true peace must not only be contingent upon conditions or happenings): "God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference." and "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."

There now, I give myself to peas and quit. ;)