In trying to think of some clever, witty, inspirational post for today, I got sidetracked by thoughts that are less than witty.

I was telling Michael just the other day that I wished I was more sunny and upbeat and cheerful all the time. I wish I could be classified as “perky”. But I’m just not! I think about sad things. I mull over life’s impossibilities. I see the sorrow embodied in a pile of clean laundry. I like to watch documentaries about boring things.

So I come to you today as your “Little Black Raincloud.” Just imagine that Eeyore is writing this post, and when it’s all said and done, you can try to have a good day, if it is a good day, which I doubt.

Over the past few weeks I’ve been wondering, Why does God ask us to do the impossible??? Many people like to say, “God doesn’t give you more than you can handle.” But I am not sure that’s true. After all, on a regular basis I look around and realize that I definitely have more than I can handle. I am often completely emptied of all my resources. I can’t go another step further. I will simply melt if I have to clean up one more spill.

People often say, “Oh you’re such a good mom. You’re amazing. How do you stay so calm?” And I look at them and wonder what it is about me that they see that I don’t see. I’m not a good mom. I’m not amazing. And I don’t stay calm.

I think that Twila Paris pegged it in her song, “The Warrior is a Child.” Here are the lyrics, slightly edited…

Lately I’ve been winning battles left and right
But even winners can get wounded in the fight
People say that I’m amazing strong beyond my years,
but they don’t see inside of me I’m hiding all the tears

(chorus)
They don’t know that I go running home when I fall down,
They don’t know who picks me up when no one is around,
I drop my sword and cry for just a while
cause deep inside this armor the Warrior is a child

Unafraid because his armor is the best
but even soldiers need a quiet place to rest
people say that I’m amazing Never face retreat,
but they don’t see the enemies that lay me at his feet

I drop my sword and look up for his smile
deep inside this armor The warrior is a child.
—————–

Do you ever feel like that? Maybe you’re not a mom of six kids like I am. Maybe you’re a mom of one or two kids, and you feel totally overwhelmed. Maybe you’re not a mom at all, but you face things that you honestly feel are beyond your capabilities.

What do you do? Well, if you’re like me, you have a little pity party, and maybe you even retreat for a while and hide from all the noise. But then the time comes when you must re-engage. You must take the next step. Somehow, even though you can’t go any further, you just do. You do the next thing.

I can share a few ideas with you of things that I’ve found to be helpful when I despair of ever having things under control and picked up and cleaned up and caught up.

First, be sure you’re eating properly. If you’re like me and tend to breakfast on leftover Easter candy, your whole emotional system is going to be all out of whack. Do your best to resist the sweets and have a healthy meal. You know all the right things to do…. drink lots of water, eat enough protein, take your vitamins, etc.

Second, play uplifting music. Music is so powerful. Even in the Bible we see music as a theraputic solution to despondent spirits.

Third, exericse. I am NOT an exercise fiend. I avoid it like the plague. But when I do get off my rear and get out for a walk or work in the garden or play tag with the kids, I find my spirits lifting. The fresh air is good for us. Getting our heart rate up is healthy. And there’s something about sunshine that chases away dark spirits.

Fourth, just get busy. I have to fight the urge to sit on the couch and stare miserably at the pile of crud that needs my attention. But if I just get up and get started on things, I’m amazed at how quickly I see good results and how the process of cleaning up is so encouraging.

Fifth, cry out to God for help. When people tell me to pray about things, I wonder exactly how that’s supposed to work. I don’t have time to stop what I’m doing and have a prayer time. Besides, I usually feel grumpy and unprayerful when I’m in a stressful situation. But a while back I decided to just give it a shot, and not worry about how I felt. So once, as I was stressing out over the fact that I have no room for one of my kids’ hanging clothes, I just paused and cried out to God silently. “What am I supposed to do???” I hollered. “If you have us in this house and with this number of children, You’ve got to help me figure out where to put everyone and everything!” A short time later the Lord gave me the idea of hanging a limited number of hanging clothes on a hook on a closet door. It’s not fancy, it’s not much, but it’s perfect for what we needed. And other times when I’ve realized that my night is very short and I have higher demands on me than usual, I pray and beg God to help me get through my morning the next day. Sure enough, both times He has granted me an extra measure of grace and patience. I happen to know that I never would have been that functional on so few hours of sleep without God’s direct intervention.

So, my dear friends in the trenches, be encouraged. God certainly does give us more than we can handle. But then He takes us by the hand and walks us through it, whether we think we’re going to make it or not.

Thank you for being here with me on my journey.