A Prayer of Weariness.

I'm tired. How bout you? I'm not only sleepy tired, but worn down from the heaviness of many stressful situations tired. Can you relate?  I came across this today and wanted to share it with you. It's called " A Prayer of Weariness" by Randy Alcorn. May it be a blessing to you as it is to me...




I AM WEARY, Lord…bone-tired.

Weary to the point of tears, and past them.

Your Word says you never grow weary;

But I know you understand weariness

Because once you dragged a heavy cross

up a long lonely hill—

Many times you had nowhere to lay your head—

And people who needed you pressed upon you

by day and by night.

My reservoir is depleted, almost dry.

For longer than I can remember I've been 

Dredging from its sludgy underside

Giving myself and my loved ones the leftovers

Of a life occupied with endless tasks.

The elastic of my life is so stretched out of shape

It doesn't snap back anymore.

Just once I’d like to say “It is finished,” like you did.

But you said it just before you died.

I guess my job won’t be over till my life is

And that’s OK Lord,

If you’ll just give me strength to live it.

Deliver me from this limbo of half-life;

Not just surviving, but thriving.

You who know all, You who know me

Far better than I know myself—

Deposit to my account that as I spend myself

There may be always more to draw from.

Give me strength

To rest without guilt…

To run without frenzy…

To soar like an eagle

Over the broad breathless canyons of the life

You still have for me both here and beyond.

Free to be you PART 2

I want to continue on with some more thoughts and encouragement in our fight against comparison.  I shared a snip it in my previous post from a wonderful little devotional I had read. I shared how it helped me in my times of struggle with jealousy. Today, as I was reading in another devotional, the title was " Uniquely you. Be the best Mama that GOD made YOU to be " Here are some highlights that stood out for me...

"Mama's tend to imagine that our friends live in sparkling home. Their children have spot free clothes and shinning faces, neatly completing their work assignments for school. We imagine their husbands bring them flowers at the end of hard days and maybe even a pizza so cooking isn't necessary. The key word here is IMAGINE.  In real life, we ALL face trials great and small. We often trip head long into the pit that is comparison. Comparison accomplishes nothing but breeding self-pity and discontent ( 2 Corinthians 10:12). The Bible tells us to be content in all circumstances ( Phil 4:11). Why? Because the Lord handpicks our circumstances for US. He allows those trials which will enable us to better turn our faces to Him. He allows the trials that will best prune away the unsightly growths on our hearts so that they reflect His imagine. Oftentimes, we can not change our circumstances, but we can change our responses to them. As christian mothers, we need to stop comparing ourselves to others and focus more on encouraging each other in the Lord. You may have a creative friend, or a friend who keeps her house clean and sparkly. None of that matters if you are seeking to encourage her by speaking about that which really matters; the works of God in her life and in the lives of those she loves ( Prov. 31:26). God made YOU, just as you are. He chose YOU to be the mother to your children. He chose YOU to be the wife to your husband. These are the only jobs you will hold in which you are irreplaceable. Choose to do these jobs well. Choose to be thankful for the gifts that the Lord has given to you and try to grow in the areas that have rough edges. Choose to rejoice int he days to come, because you will be facing them hand-in-hand with the One who created them-and you!-and spoke them into being." 

 I loved her comment " Comparison accomplishes nothing but breading self - pity and discontent". It's so very true. Nothing good ever comes from it. We never feel better about ourselves, our family, or our life when we are comparing.

Comparison doesn't just effect us Moms. It effects all women. Single and Married.

Be encouraged as I am in this. You ( and I ) are free to be ourselves. We are unique. Let's work on thankfulness today. Thank the Lord for your life and all the blessings He has given you. Be blessed!! 

Free to be you!

Did you know that you are free to be yourself? I know that it can be hard when you see so many " perfect people" out there. I have had a tendency to struggle with jealousy and coveting when it comes to certain people. I see certain people who SEEM to have it all. The perfect family. Perfect relationship with their husband. Perfect children, house, homeschooling environment.  They have a perfect ministry. Perfect attitude and always look at the good. They seem overly blessed. So I sigh and think, " boy, I wish I could have that life.". I start to get sour about my life, then I get ungrateful. I grumble in my heart and start feeling terrible about myself. I say things like, " I am a lousy mom compared to so and so." Or, "Why can't my house look like so and so."   It only snow balls from there and down down down I go in thought. The saying is true, " Comparison is the thief of joy".

During one of my ruts, I came across a wonderful little devotional that really spoke to my heart. It was titled "Free to be you!". I wish I could share the whole thing here, but I will highlight some things that really helped me. She started. " How amazing that God individually fashions each new inhabitant of the earth, There is not one who is the same. Not only does this cause us to worship our awesome God but it also liberates us to be the special person God created us to be. I am different from everyone else in the world. I am free from the bondage of having to be like anyone else. You are also unique and different person. That means you don't have to measure up to anyone else"s standard for you.  Dear mother, you don't have to try to be someone else to find your identity. You don't have to mother the same as a particular mother you admire, or some rules in a book. All you have to do is to mother according to your own heart and your individual personality.  You were born to reflect a special image of God on this earth. you were born to reveal the creative love of God from your heart in a way no one else can. Pour yourself out to touch others with God's love. Don't hold back and don't deprive the world of seeing the unique hand of God upon your life. Your will find your true identity as you pursue God and pour your life out for others. The more you know God the more you'll understand who He created you to be."
WOW!! I really needed that. It is truly freeing. If your struggling with any kind of comparison, jealousy, coveting, or anything of that nature, know you don't have to. Your free to be yourself. God has a purpose for YOU and the life He gave YOU. Start embracing your life. Look around and count your blessings then be thankful. I pray this blesses you and it has me. Let's be free to be ourselves! Be blessed.