It’s been a long, tough week this week what with being ill and stressed at work. So today was necessary, a day good for the soul. Praise God, the weather was stunning; clear blue skies, sunny and, whilst not warm, not bitterly cold. The promise of Spring just around the corner. 

Sam and I spent the night in Bransgore with our close friend Omi, which in itself was life-giving and restful. We have been there a number of times and (if you’ve been there, you’d probably agree) it is a place that quietens the mind and soul. We spoke for hours over dinner, danced around the living room and ate chocolate, lounging on the sofa. Any time spent with Omi is energising, she’s the type of friend everyone needs at least one of.

In the morning we ate pancakes with Omi and Nai, another old uni friend, catching up on a few years! After introducing Nai to Hamilton (if you still don’t know it, check it out), we saw a photo of the newest member of our framily (friend family), Ezra Joel Russell. We love him already. 

Sam and I then had a trip to the beach where we lay on our fronts, the sand cool on our bellies and the sun warm on our faces. We laughed at dogs and small children running past, spoke of important things and watched the waves come rolling in. 

Now we are home, our hearts and cups full. 

Friends, days like this do not fix problems. They do not save the world. They do not erase pain, stop human trafficking or make money. What they do do is restore energy, refresh the mind and inject hope into life, thus enabling us to fight the worthy fight. We cannot pour from an empty cup and we cannot run with an empty tank. It is necessary, therefore, to stop every now and then. To go outside, put down our phones, close our eyes and listen to the crashing waves. God took a day of rest after creating the world, why would we think we don’t need that? So book it in, a day of rest and restoration. A day to spend with good friends over warming food. A day to breathe deeply and slowly. You need it.