Rest & Strength

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A few days ago, I posted When It Rains…Well You Know The Rest  & wrote about needing rest. Well wouldn’t you know that the very next verse in my Daily Bible Devotional was about…..REST! I find things like that kinda eeery & fascinating & spirtual all at once. Rest is what I was asking for, & here this verse pops up on my handy-dandy app the very day I requested it. And then I had to read that last sentence.

“But they would not listen.”

What? I listen. 

Don’t I?

Hmmmmm. Have I avoided opportunities to rest because I “needed” to do this or that or go here or there? Am I listening for when He says it’s time to rest? I’m guilty of going & going until I’m so worn out that it feels like moving a mountain to do one more errand, cook one more meal, fold one more piece of laundry, or pick up the same pile of toys for the bagillionth time. When I feel like that, I “take a day.” This is where B & I hang out watching Rio & do…nothing.  Just so you know, that’s not happening today.

Here’s the verse from my Daily Bible Devotion app: If you’re looking for a  daily devotional app, this is a good one.

God has told his people, “Here is a place of rest; let the weary rest here. This is a place of quiet rest.” But they would not listen. (NLT)
Isaiah 28:12 NLT
  • It’s important to take God’s cue for rest. He is well aware of the journey ahead and it would be wise to heed His prompting. To some, it may mean paying closer attention to your body by caring for it. To others, it could be taking a day of rest from work. However it may look to you, be sure to rest when God picks out your spot to rest.

This morning when I woke up, I was exhausted. Two nights in a row of getting up with C that’s my 7 year-old during his coughing spells have worn me out. I’m happy to report that C’s prescribed steroids have kicked in & he actually has TONS of energy today.

I rolled out of bed a little foggy & disoriented. I managed to get the coffee on & visit briefly with X before he headed off to wrestling practice. When a teenager asks if you’re feeling ok, you know you must look as bad as you feel. YIKES! I chugged down my first cup of caffeine & started my second before the kids could even brush their teeth. Just before we headed out the door for school, I checked my email on my phone mostly because it wouldn’t quit dinging at me.

I check my message from the Time Warp Wife’s series on being a better wife & partner called The Ultimate Vow. Next to my Daily Bible devotional, it’s the first thing I read each day. Today her entry is about being strong, even when we want to be weak. It reminded me that sometimes I need a change in attitude more than I need a nap.  It sure changed my “I’m so tired of being tired & everyone being sick” attitude. I don’t want to be a whiney or “woe is me” woman. And I don’t want to get all puffed up when the hubs is snoozing away while I’m trying to get the kids out the door not just on time, but in a positive manner when I really just want to pull the covers over my  own head.

I’m tired; that’s a fact.

But that’s about as bad as it gets for me.

Today, I’m choosing to be a little stronger than I am tired.

From the Time-Warp Wife http://time-warp-wife.blogspot.com/

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Day 13 – To Be a Woman of Strength

On my own.

That’s how it felt when he walked out the door to catch the next plane. True, traveling was a necessary part of his job, but I’m the wife who’s left behind.
It’s me who stays back to look after things. To clean up the spills, to fix the broken appliance, and to take out the trash. To discipline the children and to kiss them goodnight.
Sometimes…I wish it didn’t all have to fall on me. But it does.
So my husband was taking off for a trip first thing the next morning and there wasn’t much I could do about it. I sat at the edge of the bed and watched him methodically pack his suitcase, the way he always does. The black dress shoes went in first, followed by his slacks, his white shirt, his blue-striped tie, and then all the smaller items tucked into the sides. I think I’d be fascinated by his packing ritual – if I wasn’t so glum about his going.
Instead I looked down and simply sighed.
Why? Why am I left to handle everything?
None of this was asked out loud, but he knew what I was thinking because I’d said it all before. So he began talking softly while he carefully folded and rolled each T-shirt. “You know, Baby, I don’t like leaving any more than you like my going. The fact is, I hate leaving you. And the children. You gotta understand – you’re my whole world.”
With that, he had my attention and my teary eyes looked up for more.
He continued, “But I’m telling you – it weighs on me when I wonder if you’re going to be alright when I’m gone. If I question whether you’re going to be able to manage things while I’m away. If you’re going to fall apart after I get on that plane. You’re making it tough on me, Beautiful.
“You see, I need to know that I can count on you to be strong while I’m away.”
Honestly, I’d never thought of it quite like that. I guess it always seemed as though I had the difficult job – the one left holding down the home front. All he had to do was pack his bag and go.  It had not occurred to me that I was making his job that much harder by my whining and whimpering.
But you want to know something? I’m actually a very capable person. When I want to be. I’m not saying that I enjoy plunging the clogged toilet or calling the electrician.  Or being the single parent tucking the kids in at night. Crawling into bed alone.
I’m just saying that I’m able to handle these things – if I’ve a mind to. I can even do it cheerfully when determined.
And so I was glad to learn that my husband needs me to be strong – not just while he’s traveling – but at other times as well. He is freer to focus on his responsibilities when he’s sure I’m going to give my all to mine.
So in a sense, I’m packing my own bags now.  Only I’m making sure strength is my clothing.
A strong wife in difficult – and even ordinary – circumstances can be a real blessing to her husband.

Today’s Vow: To be a woman of strength. The Challenge: Seek to bless your husband by letting him know you’ll do your best to rise to the challenges that come your way.

Strength and honor are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.
~ Proverbs 31:25 ~
In His grace,
Lisa Jacobson

About Hazardous Housewife

I'm a busy stay at home mom of 4 kids. I started blogging to share more in-depth tales of our family to distant family & friends. I like using Facebook for that very thing but I don't want to clog my FB feed up by my seemingly constant posts about the superstars of my life, my kids. I enjoy the simpler things in life without a ton of drama. Love to cook, hate to clean the mess-that's where my hubby comes in. Enjoy each moment with my baby at home & am in a constant state of stimulation with my older 3. I'm prone to being a bit klutzy & gracefulness can be challenging. Not sure where this will take me, but I'm willing to find out!

2 Responses »

  1. It’s 430 in the afternoon on the same day as this post. I just brewed a pot of coffee so I can function through dinner. I’m working really hard on the attitude thing, but I really do need a nap! And no, I can’t just go lay down & take one. I have kids with radar that detects that mom is alone, or about to rest.They’re good like that!. :-) .

  2. My husband has been working out of town for years. But 3 years ago he took a job that takes him out of town 26 days out of each month! It has been hard, and I can totally empathize with you. My children are grown and out of the house, but his mom still needs me to take her to her dr. appointments and to run errands. He needs me to be strong and to keep everything running. We have been able to pay off our mortgage and all of the car loans this last year. We are finally debt free. And the end is in sight….he will be done with this assignment later this year, and may even be retiring. So….hang in there, and find joy where you can…in your children, friends and family and most of all in the Lord. And delight in the times when you and your husband are together. I am so glad that you realize that even though it is hard, the Lord gives you the strength to do it! God bless you sister in Christ!

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