Bed Rest and Heavenly Bliss: Spades vs. Pillows

“They shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit…They shall not plant and another eat; For as the days of a tree so shall be the days of My people, and My elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands.”  Isaiah 66:21, 22

For the past four weeks I have been on bed rest, lying prone day and night except for brief, necessary excursions.  My doctor and I are trying to protect the life of a new little baby growing inside me.  She believes the need for bed rest could continue for a long time, perhaps the duration of my pregnancy, about four more months.  In the grand length of a life, this is not a real long time, but right now it seems quite formidable.

There have been many times in my life that I have been SO tired.  I longed for lengthy rest times.  Often my body would succumb and I would end up sick in bed, but not for this long.

In those tired times I’ve thought about Heaven.  I didn’t mind the idea of sitting on a cloud and playing a harp for all eternity.  In fact sometimes I’ve been rather put out with the idea of “no night there” and that we will plant vineyards and do other useful work.  In my mind I thought maybe Jesus would understand if I stay back in my city home and take a nap while others do the planting.  Yes, I’ve been that tired in my life to think such things.

But God is so gracious in bringing me new insight.  During these weeks my body has felt like a wound-up spring.  I’ve had to force myself to stillness and remind myself not to pick Andrew up when he cries, not to fold that load of laundry that needs to come out of the dryer, not to cook supper for my family, not to water my morning glories or deadhead all my petunias.  I’ve stopped myself from (enjoyable) useful labor in favor of lying flat and staying calm and serene.  For the baby, I remind myself.

Tonight the thought occurred to me:  I’m glad Heaven isn’t like this.  This is not bliss, as I once imagined.  Useful labor for the Master is far better to me than doing nothing for all eternity. 

So I’ve changed my mind.  I’m going to ask Jesus for my golden spade when I get There!

Thanks, Lord, for this new understanding, and for the precious time You’re giving me while on bed rest, learning from You.