Mom underlined this passage in her Bible. “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28 ESV

My Mom’s well-worn Bible meant she spent time reading it.

While organization is one of the ten habits of successful people, the second isn’t being a workaholic. The second is relaxation. It is only possible to rest when you have confidence that inactivity is not risky or won’t cause you to get behind or not finish your organized list. Rest and relaxation can take many forms. In mom’s case, her most important rest was found in God. She knew God was at work, so she didn’t have to wear herself out but could wait on the Lord. See Psalm 37:7

Mom also knew that she could let others do the work. She was a hard worker, but as she grew old and more frail, she enjoyed relaxing with family. One trip we took with Violet and Beth in July 2006 was memorable because Mom joined us.

Violet and Shirley enjoying a break together at lunch. This was during a trip to Dallas.

As you can see from the picture, she delighted in her time with little Violet. Life wasn’t just about the list of things she had to accomplish in order to be a success. It was about spending time with family. Mom knew the value of working for the family and of relaxation with her family. She was successful because she knew she didn’t have to do it all before the sun set.

A note in Mom’s Bible: “Our God is a God Who worketh for him who Waiteth for Him.”