My times are in your hands… Psalm 31:15 (NIV)
When I was newly-returned to university, I struggled to balance parenting, two jobs, and college requirements. It took all the energy and grace I had to address each responsibility in a fairly adequate manner and still ensure my own spiritual and mental health.
And then one of my children had a minor crisis in school – just as I was preparing for a mid-term exam. I worked with elementary teachers to resolve the issue, and then I spoke to my university professor. I wanted to see if my mid-term could be delayed a while so that I could take these challenges one at a time. That made perfect sense to me.
She said something I’ve never forgotten. “Marthe, you will find that life doesn’t stop to make allowances for crises. There are no convenient times for problems. It all flows together. It’s up to you to handle everything as it comes.” She didn’t tell me how to do it, but essentially she was saying that I couldn’t postpone the exam until I was ready, and that I wouldn’t be able to slow down time for my convenience.
This was possibly one of the best lessons I learned in that Early Childhood Development class. Life comes at you fast, and the only way we can stay poised and at peace with the stresses that make up every single day is to invite Christ into every situation. We ask for his guidance, wisdom, and grace. We ask for help in prioritizing the issues. And it works. We can’t manage or control the circumstances that intrude into our lives, but with Christ’s help, we can manage ourselves with regards to the circumstances. It works.
Thank you very much, Dr. Waldron.
Sweet Lord, you see the end from the beginning, and nothing ever takes you by surprise. Help us to remember that if we’ve asked you to be Lord, we must act accordingly. Forgive us if we complain about the overload. You know exactly what we can bear and are there to carry the load when we can’t. Thank you. AMEN.
agodforeveryday 