By Jan Penton Miller
Columnist
I’m sitting at the Toyota dealership in Gulfport where the television is competing
with music piped through the building. Around me I hear conversations from
several people discussing a variety of things from the service on their car to their
private, not so private, personal chitchat. I’m not paying attention to any of it, but
occasionally one sound or another comes into focus.
My phone dings with a message, which I answer promptly since it is close at hand.
Actually, I have answered three texts in the brief moments I have been here. I think
it may be time to take a time out from all the noise.
If we were graced with warm weather I would sit in a chair outside the large wall of
windows. Actually, I think I will. A big oops on that! When I snuggled into my coat to
ward off the chill and started to retrieve my computer from its case the highway’s
roar demanded my attention. What a noisy place!
It must be a perfect day to retreat into a quiet, lovely place and reflect there for a
while. The thought comes to me that if adults need a place of solitude and rest
children much more need such a place. When I worked with lower elementary
children I always noticed that the kids who didn’t get proper rest at night struggled
to stay alert and keep up with their work.
The struggle was often compounded when students failed to receive enough play
and exercise time. I always hated to see what happened to the kids who were
already behind the eight ball when recess rolled around. The students who didn’t
finish their work were punished by missing recess and often had to stay inside to
finish their work. Sometimes they would have to stand on the wall and watch the
others play.
Not only did this seem pretty mean to me, but also I thought a nice playtime would
help the students relax and burn off a little pent up energy.
Like any adult, a child needs a good balance of rest and exercise, solitude and group
activity. Balance these things with a healthy dose of praise and encouragement, and
I believe you are giving your child a recipe for success.
Our pastor mentioned this week that when we tell children they can accomplish
anything we are doing them a disservice because it’s not true.
I have to agree with this statement. If it were true I would have the voice of a
songbird instead of a frog.

In order to write it is a requirement that I find a quiet place even if it’s in my head.
I’m reminded of the old hymn “Near to the Heart of God” written by Cleland Boyd
McAfee when he had been through a particularly challenging time.
The lyrics there is a place of quiet rest near to the heart of God was truth for him, and
in my opinion is more important than any other aspect of finding rest.