The end of a long day

In one hand, the father carried a crying toddler. In the other, he pulled a wagon through the thick sand. The wagon was loaded with beach chairs, a large umbrella, and an ice chest. The back of his gray tank top, with the sun beating down on him, was soaked in sweat. He looked as comfortable as a grizzly bear in a hot sauna. Close behind him followed the mom with two other kids. When the couple reached the boardwalk, I considered getting up and giving them a standing ovation.

I’ve been in their shoes and couldn’t help but feel empathy for them. Is there anyone more tired than a mom or dad loaded down with beach chairs, sand in places where sand shouldn’t be, walking off the beach at the end of a long sun-soaked day?

Of course, a few other people came to mind:

–The roofer is loading up his truck. It’s been a day of running up and down a ladder. He put a new roof on a home or business. He’s sticky and dirty from head to toe. He’s got dried sweat on top of dried sweat and he’s dying for a simple bottle of water. He’s hungry too, but he knows that he has to stop for something to eat on the way home. He’s got nothing but ketchup, mustard, and mayonnaise in his refrigerator.

–The mom carries her small kids and their assortment of bags out of an amusement or water park after a long day of running, walking and playing. One kid has a stuffed giraffe that she keeps dropping. The other keeps whining that he’s hungry. And mom just wants to get home and into a hot bath.

–An emergency room nurse and an EMT walk out of the hospital after a long shift. They’re not sure if they should laugh or cry. It’s been that kind of day. They ask lightly about each other’s family, but don’t get into too many details. They just want to go home, wash the crud of the day off of them, and crash on the sofa.

–The little kid about 10 or 12 years old walks off the trail. He didn’t even want to go on the hike, but his father made him. “Oh, it’s got great waterfalls. We might even see a deer or two. You’ll love it,” his dad told him. The kid is tired beyond belief. There’s a pebble in his shoe that keeps stabbing him and he just wants to go home and play on his video game console. Yea, yea, we saw a waterfall! Big deal!

–The truck driver pulls into the rest station for the night. He can’t wait to make it home. One more day and he’ll get the break he’s been waiting for. A whole week off, before he’s got to get back on the road again. Ahh, sweet, sweet rest.

Yes, we all need our rest.