My life is not simple right now. Pregnant at almost 39 means complications that I’ve never experienced before. Our homeschoolers are going to have to work through the summer to complete this year’s work. Making Music Praying Twice is growing, which is wonderful, but means regular travel and speaking in addition to my usual jobs of teaching, writing and keeping on top of the websites. Of course, life continues to include dance classes, Little League, Tae Kwon Do, choir practice, forensics, physical therapy, etc., etc..
My life is not simple. I do my evening work on my laptop with some reality cooking shows on TV to help me feel like I’m getting some relaxation time. I’m probably going to need at least 4 doctors appointments for me in the next 2 weeks plus labwork. I have one child who needs physical therapy and one who needs occupational therapy, and I’m not sure how to deal with our insurance.
Now, I’m not telling you all this just to whine. I understand that 70% of you out there have as much, if not more, on your plates. And that’s the point. When our plates are overfilled and the gravy is getting in the pudding, and the peas are falling off the plate, all we can do is pick up our forks, and start eating, one bite at a time. If we try to scarf it down, we will be sick. If we try to hide it in our napkin, we’ll just make a mess. If we start making excuses, the plate will continue to overfill as we procrastinate and will eventually break.
And so, when life gets overwhelming, and it will, we need to get to work and do what we can without worry, complaint or excuses. While you do this, ask for help. Pray, just a little, for help even if you fall asleep in Mary’s arms barely into the First Mysteries of the Rosary. Offer your work to God. Depend on your guardian angel. It doesn’t mean you have to take lots of time for prayer. This is the time to live in prayer. I promise you that if you do your part, even if it doesn’t seem like enough, and you turn to Heaven for help, everything will be OK.
God takes care of us. He loves us and he cares for us through good and bad. He reaches into the details of our lives. He has kept me from falling over and over and in the times when He has allowed me to fall, He has rewarded even the tiniest speck of faith in my soul by picking me up. I can only speak for myself, but I do know that God loves you as much as He loves me. I know that He will care for us as His very own children if we put in just some effort, and when we totally fail Him, He welcomes us back. He does not demand perfection, despite His perfection. So try and pray and have faith.
Think about what God wants for your life. Don’t take on more than He is giving you. That’s not to say you won’t feel overwhelmed. When you look at your calendar, and remember that you are doing these things through Christ, you will realize that all things are possible. If God wants it, trying and praying and trusting are enough.
