Help me to not worry
when the phone rings and rings
and my messages go unanswered.
Let me take a deep breath
and picture them;
not in a ditch,
but where they usually are these days—
touring a winery,
hiking a woodland path,
or on yet another trip.
The life they are living today is
their reward for years of labor,
sacrifices made when we were children.
I know this even as I envy them.
They have the leisure I want for myself.
But today, it is theirs.
Let my smile mirror your smile,
as they enjoy their health,
their time, and their lives,
dedicated at long last to enjoying the world
You have made and the leisure You grant.