Retirement Rocks: A 14-Day Reading Plan for All That Free TimeSample

"You don't have to do that, you know."

Katy looked up from scrubbing the baseboards and saw the concern in her husband’s eyes as he stared down at her.

“Do what?” She swiped the perspiration from her forehead with the back of her hand.

“Clean all day. This house looks like it could be in a magazine already!” He took a bite of the apple in his hand and shrugged. “I’m just saying.”

“Hardly!” She laughed and went back to work on the baseboards.

“Are you kidding? I saw my reflection in the refrigerator door just now. And the inside of the fridge smells like flowers. That’s not natural. Throws a man off when his fridge smells like flowers.”

“Maybe it’s time to back away from the fridge, then, Stan.” She reached for a different rag and concentrated on the spots on the baseboards. One of them wouldn’t come off. Should she consider repainting the boards? Would that be a better option?

Worry lines creased Stan’s forehead. “I’m just worried about you, Katy. You don’t seem to know how to relax.”

She stopped once again to think about his words as he headed off into the TV room. Maybe Stan had something there. She did seem driven these days. Ever since her retirement from the bank, she'd filled every hour of every day with some sort of activity—from housework to yardwork to cooking. And cooking. And cooking. The freezer was currently filled with enough prepared foods to last them for weeks to come. Okay, months, but who was counting?

Have you walked a mile in Katy’s shoes? Are you finding it hard to relax since your retirement? Do you feel like you always need to be on the go?

Remember, even God took one day off! He’s not keen on you working yourself to death! Let it go. Those baseboards? No one cares if they’re speckled or clean. And for heaven’s sake, don’t paint them. There will be plenty of time for that later.

Teach me how to relax, Lord! I release my need to go, go, go! Amen.