Two short weeks ago, I had just enjoyed my first day of summer vacation and prepared to have a relaxing lavendar bath.

I arrived at the end of the school term, weary, but I made it through. Now I would enjoy a season of rest before diving into summer activities.

I sank into the hot water and bubbles, lazily dreaming about the slower pace life would have now…

Three minutes into my soak, it was cut short by a knock on the door. “Hurry, you’re needed at your sister’s house to babysit!”

Apparently the baby who wasn’t due for another couple of weeks had decided to arrive early, and the two weeks of help which I’d promised my sister would be starting… now.

I got my calendar cleared, my things packed, and before I mentally had switched gears, I found myself moving into a cozy upstairs bedroom at my sister’s house.

I remember asking in the busy whirlwind, “God, what about the rest I was longing for?”

But two weeks later, I haven’t had time to miss that resting.

God gave me an adorable baby nephew.

And because I agreed to take on the job of helping my sister, God also gave me my toddler nephew to take care of… a house to clean… laundry… meals to cook… a garden to keep weed free (LOL – Nice try) and… a strawberry patch. It’s doing well, by the way. It produces endless strawberries.

I never knew the self-discipline that a strawberry patch could instill in me. When I want to stay up late reading, all it takes is the remembrance of those strawberries, and I choose to go to sleep…Because I like to get them picked before my favourite “helper” wakes up. Therefore, I need to get up at a decent time. So there’s none of that summer sleeping in that I looked forward to, but I’m going to bed early! All because of those strawberries.

You know, it’s true. Sometimes a change is as good as a rest.

And God always gives us His very best, according to what He knows that we need.