As I lay down with my son, encouraging him to get some afternoon rest, I listened to his sound machine emulate a summer night. I felt like I was in the middle of the country on a starry night, being soothed by the songs of cicadas. Fortunate for me, my son was being unusually quiet, and I was able to slip into a self-created sanctuary for my soul.

Now I could have chosen to work, do laundry, clean house, read, or catch up on phone calls. However, I know all too well, the importance of giving my soul the quiet time it needs. As moms, I know it can be hard to justify spending time alone with you. It can be equally difficult finding the time. Some moms are uncomfortable being still and quiet, while others don't see much point in the matter.

There are many ways you can create a sanctuary for your soul. You can lie down and listen to soothing music. You can meditate. Spending time in a room that is a safe haven for you is another way. Float in the sun in the middle of a pool or sit by the beach and watch the waves come crashing in. Creating a sanctuary for your soul requires these things only: you spend the time alone, you are quiet and not doing anything that busies your mind and you do your best to relax. Regardless of how you do it, the most important thing is you do it because...

It nourishes your soul. Why do you think you feel so refreshed after a good night's sleep? Because your body and mind have completely shut down and refueled. By creating a sanctuary for your soul to relax, you recharge your battery. You only have so much energy to function on before you start running out. And with children, we know that energy goes fast! When you start running out, you become short-tempered, irritable, impatient, tired or even spacey. Regular time for you will do wonders for keeping you refueled, emotionally available, relaxed and happy.

When you are quiet and still, you allow the voice of God and your true self to speak to you. The Casting Crowns wrote a beautiful song called "Voice of Truth". The chorus goes like this:

But the voice of truth tells me a different story The voice of truth says, "Do not be afraid!" The voice of truth says, "This is for My glory" Out of all the voices calling out to me I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth

You need to quiet your mind's chatter and the background noise of your day to make room for the quiet voices to speak to you. It may be the voice of God giving you an answer to your prayer. That little voice could be your intuition nagging you to make a different choice in your life. It is through quiet and solitude that the truth speaks the loudest.

Creating a sanctuary for your soul promotes peace and relaxation in the family. You are not the only one that benefits from taking quiet time for yourself. Your children and husband receive a more relaxed mom and wife. And what a blessing that is. You teach your family the value of spending time alone in blissful silence. If you had a ritual in your family that encouraged everyone to take down time for their mind, body and soul, imagine how peaceful your environment could be.

Everyone needs time for reflection. Have you ever heard the saying, "I can't even hear myself think."? I know I have, and I can totally relate. Maybe because my mom used to say that to me. Sometimes you need quiet so you can sort out your thoughts. Perhaps you want to plan out your day, or think about a decision you need to make. Sometimes it's nice to be able to play your day back before you go to bed. What was great about your day? What would you have done differently? Taking this time for reflection allows us to grow, have gratitude, be organized, and value thoughtfulness.

Let's face it. All of these things help you be a better mom, better wife, and an all around better person. The job of motherhood demands we be at our best as much as possible. If we do not take care of ourselves on a regular basis, we only have less than our best self to give. Creating a sanctuary for your soul allows you to give to yourself so you can give back to others.