Come Unto Him for Rest by Susan Wuitschick

When I was a student at Stetson, part of my vocal studies included singing ‘Come Unto Him’ from Handel’s Messiah. I remember thinking how beautiful it and the entire Messiah was. The message of the piece is one of encouragement. The words from Matthew 11:2829 are ‘Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest’. In that season of life, the most pressing concerns I had were studying for classes, hanging out with friends, and contemplating what the future held. I needed rest, but I couldn’t appreciate what it really meant to be weary and to need the peace found by leaning on God. A few years later, Scott and I met, were married at First Methodist, and were each commuting to jobs an hour away and attending evening classes. Life was busy, but we had the weekends to recharge physically and spiritually. In November 1999, we bought our first home and began to start our family. Ethan was born in October 2000, then Elizabeth in February 2003. During those years with a young family and careers, I began to understand fatigue. I am, by nature, someone who will go and do until I can’t. I ruminate over things and exhaust myself instead of turning them over to God. I worry. I want control. I don’t seek balance. Our third child, Emma, was born in 2007. We had experienced three pregnancy losses before her birth, so when she was born, we were overjoyed. Our family was complete, and we enjoyed watching our children grow and mature. There were times of laughter and fun and tears and anger and all the ‘stuff’ families go through. We were beyond blessed. And at the end of many days, we were tired. Our life was full. Looking back, I see that when we took family vacations, we allowed ourselves to rest and enjoy the chance to slow down and reconnect with one another, nature, and God. We came home restored. When my parents moved back to Lakeland in 2013, we realized my dad’s health was declining, and he was having memory issues. My dad was fun and loving and strong and hardworking and not supposed to be sick. He was diagnosed with vascular dementia, and we watched him rapidly lose his cognitive and physical abilities. He asked me if Scott and I had gotten married. He became difficult at times. He forgot the homes they used to live in. It was heartbreaking. A few months after they moved, it was determined that my mother could no longer safely care for my dad in their home. He went to a nursing home and 6 weeks later went to be with the Lord. He wasn’t supposed to be gone so fast, but he was whole. I wonder if losing a parent might be the same or different for everyone. For me, thinking about it would bring a wave of panic. It was overwhelming. I didn’t get to say goodbye. I had to lean on the Lord to process my grief, and He brought me peace. Peace in knowing that my dad didn’t live for years on end with memory loss in a nursing home where he would have never been happy with his memory intact. Peace in knowing he was rejoicing in Heaven with those who had gone before. Peace in knowing I would see him again. Through all of my life, I can look back and see God’s faithfulness. I see how He has walked with my family and me through good and bad times. Preparing us and comforting us. I see how he has blessed Scott and me in so many ways. I still try to be in control. I try to take the lead. I struggle to see the big picture. I need to get out of His way. Recently I have realized that my life is lacking balance, and my family is suffering. Life has been running us. I’m stretched too thin. Two of our three children will be in college in the fall, and our youngest starts high school. Time is fleeting. Change is hard for me, and as I work through these changes, I know I need to draw my strength from the Lord. I know Jesus is there with me. I feel it when I talk with Him and ask for his guidance. One of my favorite hymns is ‘His Eye is on the Sparrow,’ which says, ‘I sing because I’m happy, I sing because I’m free, His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me’. I pray as you find yourself weary and needing rest that you lean on Jesus and know He is watching over you and will give you rest.

Published monthly by First United Methodist Church 72 Lake Morton Drive, Lakeland, Florida 33801, 863-686-3163

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Rev. David McEntire Senior Pastor

Rev. Andy Whitaker Smith

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