Mom Takes a Break

"I'm done." Mom wiped her eyes and pushed back from the table. "I need a break."Reagan didn't remember the last time she had seen her mom cry, and this time it was over a sewing machine? She looked at the fabric that was supposed to become a costume for her school play. "You're not going to finish that?""Not right now." Mom went to the refrigerator and pulled out a bottle of water. "I'm going outside."Reagan watched as her mom went out onto the deck. She stood at the railing, sipping her water and staring at their yard.Reagan stepped over to the door. After a few moments, Mom set her water on the patio table and stretched her arms. Her lips were moving, as if she might be talking to herself.Mom caught her gaze, and Reagan stepped back. She hadn't meant for her mom to know that she was watching her. Mom motioned for her to come outside."It's a beautiful day," she said as Reagan came out onto the deck. Her face looked much different than it had when she was at the sewing machine. She almost looked happy.Reagan walked over to the porch rail. "Are you going to finish my costume?"Mom smiled. "Yes. I just needed a break." She reached over and put a hand on Reagan's head. "The machine wasn't working right, and it was frustrating me. Remember how frustrated you got the other night when you couldn't solve your math problem?"Reagan nodded, her face feeling suddenly warm. "I dumped my whole pencil case all over the floor.""What could you have done instead?" Mom asked."Taken a break?" Reagan guessed."Right." Mom messed up Reagan's hair. "Even Jesus did that. There were times when He felt the need to get away. He took breaks to pray, and I think He would want us to take breaks to cool down rather than have us blow up.""It does feel nice to be outside," said Reagan."Outside. In your room alone. Exercising somewhere." Mom nodded. "When we're frustrated, just taking a breather--and maybe saying a little prayer to God too--can help us feel better." –Emily Acker