FOB Time

Ah, rest. How elusive it can be! There are always many chores waiting to be done. But even in the hustle of work, we need to take time for ourselves. We need to pull back and let the Lord refresh us.

One way of doing this is by making FOB (Feet On Bed) time. We can tell the people in our care—as well as any children at home—to put their feet on their bed for a while. In other words, no getting up, wandering around, and asking for things! They don’t necessarily have to sleep, but they need to allow us, as caregivers, some quiet time.

At that point, we can put up our own feet—sit down with a cup of tea, our Bible, or some music and just refocus for a bit. Susanna Wesley, whose many children included the great Methodist John, had a similar rule. She would sit in a chair in her home and cover her face with her apron. That was a sign to all that she was not to be disturbed.

The amount of time we need varies from person to person, but we should probably take no less than 20 minutes. Refresh, relax, rest, and regroup. It makes the whole day seem brighter and cheerier, and gives us a new perspective.