Putting Things Into Perspective

 

This past week I found myself signed up for too much.  My little red wagon of energy was trying to do an SUV worth of work.  I was exhausted.  Thursday night I had a rough night as multiple deadlines approached and I found myself frantically trying to get everything done.  I was suffering from sleep deprivation and headaches and I kept asking “How did I get myself into this mess.”

Enter prayer.  Friday morning the family prayed for me at our family prayer, asking God that some things might be taken off my plate.  As if by magic, some commitments that I made started being taken off my plate - a playdate was cancelled, a son magically cleaned the house while we were on a date, my husband made dinner because the Internet went out and he was working from home, he also did the grocery shopping because he had extra time when taking a son to his cross country meet.  This gave me energy to work on some projects that I should not have signed up for in the first place.

On Sunday I received a little nudge from God that reminded me how this all came about.  In our church we have a monthly Sunday where participants can share their thoughts about the Gospel.  A member of our congregation shared how they like to take their kids hiking.  Their kids pack little backpacks to take with them.  Inevitably, despite warnings from their parents, they try to take way too much for a half an hour hike.  They start the hike excited but by the middle of the hike they are worn out and plead with mom and dad to carry their packs.  Of course, Mom and Dad take the packs and carry them.  In the same way we also have a God who is ever willing to help us when we turn to him, even when we don’t deserve it.

I am so grateful for Jesus taking my pack this week and helping me despite foolish planning and overcommitting on my part.  I hope that this next week I will do better.  But I also hope that my children and friends know that we have a God who forgives foolishness, who reaches out to help when we turn to him.  We can trust him to carry our loads.