Do you ever feel like you haven't had a moment to yourself in who knows how long? I have. In fact, I feel that way right now. I recently was able to get five days off of work for the holidays and here I am, with one day of my stay-cation left, and I can't remember a single moment I've had to relax. Holidays with family are wonderful and come with many blessings but they are also busy. Every day I feel like I've been running around getting presents ready, getting the diaper bag filled, trying to pick up the house and keep up with laundry between running in and out of the door. My husband has even made several efforts to do dishes and keep up with the house for me so I can have time to relax. Although this was much appreciated and thoughtful, I still found myself too busy to enjoy it. As soon as I have a second, the baby wakes up from her nap, the dryer quits, someone needs fed (including the cat), and the to-do list continues. Don’t get me wrong, I love my husband, my child, my extended family and all that comes with them but I find myself getting frustrated with all of them even though none of it is their fault. I get crabby at whoever is around because I just want a second to breath and that second seems out of reach.
I hate that feeling. I hate feeling anxious, frustrated and angry. I hate feeling like I'm riding a roller coaster I can't get off of. In an effort to control these feelings, I was reminded to take a deep breath, close my eyes and pray. I prayed "Lord, help me to be still. Help me to have a better attitude and not take out my frustration on my family." Although the prayer is easy to say, it took several times for me to stop my negative and frustrated thought process of how I wish I didn't have so many responsibilities, and how I wish I didn't have to cater to others, and how I just want to stay home and do what I want to do. Through the chaos of my thoughts I was reminded of a Psalm:
Psalm 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations; I will be exalted in the earth!
Be still...
What do those words mean? I'm no bible scholar but today, those words mean to me to breath. Take that breath that seems out of reach. And to me that means, take a few moments in the chaos and focus my thoughts, my energy and my heart on the Lord. I need to point my heart in His direction and away from mine. For me, I find it is easiest by singing quiet songs of praise that reflect on his grace, his glory and his peace. The one that came to mind today was As The Deer by Martin J. Nystrom which is a song based on Psalm 42:1:
As the deer panteth for the water
So my soul longeth after thee
You alone are my heart’s desire
And I long to worship thee
You alone are my strength, my shield
To you alone may my spirit yield
You alone are my heart’s desire
And I long to Worship Thee
As I quietly sang these words I pictured myself sitting in a quiet forest or meadow by a creek watching a deer take a drink. I imagined only hearing the sounds of birds and running water and not worrying about anything else in this world. Even if those quiet moments are short lived and soon interrupted, taking just a moment to focus on the Lord, who is the real reason we are all here anyway, can calm the storm in your mind and in your busy schedule. I encourage you and myself to try to do this at least once a day. Let’s take the focus off of our to-do list and us and put it back on Him. In doing so, our thoughts, our hearts, and our homes will be a much happier and peaceful place.
I hate that feeling. I hate feeling anxious, frustrated and angry. I hate feeling like I'm riding a roller coaster I can't get off of. In an effort to control these feelings, I was reminded to take a deep breath, close my eyes and pray. I prayed "Lord, help me to be still. Help me to have a better attitude and not take out my frustration on my family." Although the prayer is easy to say, it took several times for me to stop my negative and frustrated thought process of how I wish I didn't have so many responsibilities, and how I wish I didn't have to cater to others, and how I just want to stay home and do what I want to do. Through the chaos of my thoughts I was reminded of a Psalm:
Psalm 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations; I will be exalted in the earth!
Be still...
What do those words mean? I'm no bible scholar but today, those words mean to me to breath. Take that breath that seems out of reach. And to me that means, take a few moments in the chaos and focus my thoughts, my energy and my heart on the Lord. I need to point my heart in His direction and away from mine. For me, I find it is easiest by singing quiet songs of praise that reflect on his grace, his glory and his peace. The one that came to mind today was As The Deer by Martin J. Nystrom which is a song based on Psalm 42:1:
As the deer panteth for the water
So my soul longeth after thee
You alone are my heart’s desire
And I long to worship thee
You alone are my strength, my shield
To you alone may my spirit yield
You alone are my heart’s desire
And I long to Worship Thee
As I quietly sang these words I pictured myself sitting in a quiet forest or meadow by a creek watching a deer take a drink. I imagined only hearing the sounds of birds and running water and not worrying about anything else in this world. Even if those quiet moments are short lived and soon interrupted, taking just a moment to focus on the Lord, who is the real reason we are all here anyway, can calm the storm in your mind and in your busy schedule. I encourage you and myself to try to do this at least once a day. Let’s take the focus off of our to-do list and us and put it back on Him. In doing so, our thoughts, our hearts, and our homes will be a much happier and peaceful place.