I just came across this picture that Chris took of us on the plane to Ft. Lauderdale. How perfectly it captures a sweet moment between my child and I. However just five minutes before Adeline was crying and squirming- trying to fall asleep on a plane is hard! I was sweaty from wrangling her in the hot airplane and self-conscious of how loud my baby was being. I had been awake since 3 AM and neither Chris or I had been able to get coffee or a snack since then. Yet, after patience and calm, and reassuring pats on her back, she calmed down and fell asleep and my sweet husband and I got to catch our breath, get organized and get some coffee into our systems. Thus we settled into our day-long journey to the East Coast.
How often these moments reflect my relationship with God! How often am I tired and cranky, squirming and crying because I don’t understand this new situation, or am not okay with being out of my comfort zone? I remember a sermon from church a couple years ago when we still lived in Boise, the pastor was making a parallel about resting in the Lord and he compared us to a child who is overtired. Sometimes when a baby gets overtired, the poor thing fights sleep even HARDER, crying for an hour or more before falling asleep. As parents we think “if you’re so tired, why don’t you just fall asleep?!”
I have found myself getting overtired, and rather than just resting and falling asleep, I resist God more emphatically. Watching two toddlers every day leading up to long days of travel, improvising new routines with the baby, and then coming home without my husband was a lot for me. Throw in baby jet lag, my sister moving in and a lot of things being up in the air with my husband’s job!
As mothers we are constantly pouring into those around us- our children, our friends, and our family. Often times, especially when my husband is away for work, there is no one else to pour into me except God. But that begs the question, isn’t He the one I’m supposed to look to in order to be ‘filled up’ anyway? Why don’t I remember this more often?
Matt 11:28-30 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
I know that my “troubles” don’t hold a candle to what many other people work through and struggle with, but the comfort from the Lord is the same. Especially as mothers where we give so much of ourselves every day- just as the Lord wants us to do. I've had such a loving reminder to unburden myself at the feet of Jesus.
Our family is in a time of transition, and rather than wiggle and squirm and fight, I’m soothed and encouraged by the Lord to just rest in him. He knows the plan, the journey, and the outcome. Why not be along for the ride?
