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Sunday, March 30, 2008

Overwhelmed!

Right after breakfast is bath time for my one-year old twins, Tanner and Tyler. There is no better time to wash oatmeal and mashed bananas down the drain than first thing in the morning. When they are finished there is a process to getting them out of the tub.


This is how it works; first I drain the tub, then I run a towel-covered Tanner to the living room carpet, and then run back to get Tyler, who is still in the (empty) tub, and bring him back for a diapering/dressing fest. Only this morning, much to my surprise, when I ran back to get Tyler out of the tub, in the 3.5 seconds I had been gone, he "did his business" in the tub! Great, I thought. Now I'll have to clean up this big mess, but no time, I've got to run back to the living room. And, yet another surprise awaited me....Tanner had "done his business" on the only square foot of carpet in the house!
At this moment I was tempted to crawl back under those covers I had left and call it a day! However, that wasn’t going to be happening, it wasn’t even 7 am yet! I still had 3 other kids to feed, clothes to wash, beds to make, and who knows how many countless other messes to clean up. I sank to the floor, feeling completely overwhelmed. How was I going to get through this day, let alone the rest of the week? I wish I could say that feeling overwhelmed is a once and done thing. However, for me, it is a near every day occurrence!

And yet, I am so thankful that I have a faithful God who lovingly whispers in my ear, “You can do it”, picks me up and dusts me off, only to do the same thing again 30 minutes later. Our God is a faithful God, and His mercies are new every morning….and every afternoon, evening, and night! Lamentations 3:23 says, “Your mercies are new every morning, great is Your faithfulness Lord unto me.” He is not only faithful to give us new mercies, but He is abundantly generous with His strength as well.


“He gives strength to the weary, and to him who lacks might He increases power,
though youths grow weary and tired, and vigorous young men stumble and fall. Yet
those that wait on the Lord will renew their strength. They will mount up with
wings like eagles, they will run and not grow faint, they will walk and not grow
weary.” Isaiah 40:29-31

These are life giving words! Whatever tasks we face along the way (babies pooping on the floor seems pretty insignificant to the real trials of life) we can rely on HIS strength to get us through all of it. Big or small, God is there, through every overwhelming circumstance that comes our way. And He will be there again and again and again. So, I’m going to pick myself up from off of the floor, and look to Him for strength to start again…right after I get four little chubby hands out of the garbage can.

In Him......Joy
I'd love to have you visit me at my personal blog, Joy in the Journey.


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11 Comments:

Blogger Denise said...

Awesome sweetie.

March 29, 2008 at 12:37 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

As a mother of 5, Girl, I remember the day!!
You are so right, though, God is there - 100 times a day if necessary - to pick us up and dust us off. And He does it because your job is precious and those you care for are eternal. Blessings to you and your 'house full'.
Awesome word today!
Welcome!

March 29, 2008 at 10:23 AM  
Blogger windycindy said...

Hi, Recently, I have read about being happy that one can do laundry, clean house, cook meals, etc. Someday, those people will move on and you won't have them to do for! I am partially dealing with the empty nest syndrome and it isn't easy for me. Thanks for your lovely words! Cindi
jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com

March 29, 2008 at 11:26 AM  
Blogger Mocha with Linda said...

Such a wonderful promise! Thanks for the reminder.

March 29, 2008 at 11:50 AM  
Blogger Chris @ Come to the Table said...

I am a mom to five too, and even as they grow I still have those days. I love this verse in Isaiah, "He gives strength to the weary", what comfort I find in those words.

Blessings to you and Welcome!

March 29, 2008 at 2:43 PM  
Blogger lori said...

Breathe in....say a prayer, breathe out, say a prayer...
what a wonderful post....those of us with kiddos know this....
I TALK to HIM all day long....in the midst of our chaos....

great, great post!!
(mine are a bit older now....but I've been interrupted 3 times just posting this comment....and everyone was settled when I SAT down....;)

peace!
lori

March 29, 2008 at 5:03 PM  
Blogger Borbe Bunch said...

Thanks Joy for your words of LIFE you left with us today! These are some of my favorite verses, so often I say them in my head...God is a perfect God and I am so thankful for His unending strength! :)
Love ya and so thankful for you and your open, God honoring heart!
To HIM be the glory.
Liz

March 29, 2008 at 5:28 PM  
Blogger Darlene Schacht said...

Beautiful as always, Joy!

I forgot to give you the button that you requested, so I just posted it here, and you can copy the code for next time, ok? Thanks for your patience, and your great writing! :)

March 29, 2008 at 6:21 PM  
Blogger Julie said...

Joy,
Goodness what a day you had. I too am a mother of 5 kids, but I'm out of the diapering stage, though I wondered if it would ever end.

You heart is precious and I love how you found God's strength in the midst.

You are doing a great job!!!

I am new the the Internet Cafe's blogging team. I look forward to reading more of your beautiful story.

Blessings,
Julie

March 29, 2008 at 8:47 PM  
Blogger Aunt Angie said...

I loved that! Felt like I was there---right along with you...'course if I had been...then maybe the "messes" could have been avoided! :)
The Lord continually speaks to us through the little lives He places in our care.
This was a great post!

March 31, 2008 at 10:32 AM  
Blogger Stylib38 said...

Joy, I followed the link from your blog here and wanted to thank you for such a real devotional. While I don't have children I can certainly relate especially when I used to watch 3 year old twins and their big brother. I wanted to say you young moms are amazing and I applaud you in a world that measure success by how much money you make. You are shaping lives for eternity and your worth can NOT be measured by mere $$! I heard a speaker once that said when we wait on the Lord sometimes He gives us wings to fly and soar above our struggles and sometimes the ability to run and not grow weary but sometimes He just helps us walk and not faint. I am paraphrasing as I don't remember the exact words but the seared in my soul as encouragement to someone who struggles with a chronic pain condition and feels often as she is just walking and not fainting in His strength! thank again!

April 1, 2008 at 2:25 PM  

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