Rest and Be Thankful - A83 in Scotland

Scott and I had the amazing opportunity to spend a couple of weeks touring Scotland. 

We were on a small tour on a road between Glasgow and Oban, in the Scottish Highlands. The van pulled over after a steep climb through this valley. I thought perhaps we’d over-heated. Then we learned, the story goes that the Jacobites, led by General Wade, walked along the Highlands on this very steep road. Once you get to the summit, you can pause and take in the views. “Rest and Be Thankful” are the words inscribed on a stone, said to be placed in 1750, commemorating the completion of this road. (It’s also said many pilgrims, soldiers, and weary travelers used this road, or the sheep path, or stream path, throughout the centuries.) And this is the official name of this road and summit, with a fancier stone and the story.

As we summited, and got out of the van, I gasped, taking in the beauty. Oh my, I could see the road built in 1750, today’s highway, the valley, the mountains, the streams, and a lake off in the horizon. And I was thankful – my heart was filled with joy – I was grateful for the opportunity to take this amazing vacation, to see this part of the world, to see the hands of my Higher Power in the green green mountains, the flowers on the roadside, the cloudy sky. And I was thankful for being able to rest –

When was the last time you rested? When have you reached a “summit” in your life and stopped to be thankful? Self-care and gratitude my friends, whether for 2 weeks or 2 hours, is so very very important.