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Wednesday, May 4, 2011

How to Stand Still in a Puddle of Pee


I awoke to a pee puddle on the floor, and that’s the kind of week it’s been --  a who-pooped-in-the-tub?, walls-falling-down, have-to-hire-a-sitter-to-take-a-shower kind of week.




In case you need me to clarify, the puddle belonged to my toddler, not me.  But these are the gifts that keep on giving, aren’t they?

Friend, can I pull covers back over my head and sleep for six days straight if I promise to catch up with laundrydishesdustinggradingwritingreadingcleaningbathing… later?  Thanks.  You’re a pal.

Fancy a recap? 

Good friend missing in Alabama tornadoes.  Worried sick.  Knock-me-over allergy woes.  Big kids in big trouble with big implications… lots of “what kinda man are you going to be” conversations with our resident boys, this week.  Four doctor appointments all around, tuberculosis scare.  Phone calls from teachers…detention, detention, suspension.  Potty training.  Water leak.  Five trips to town.  Medication changes.  Meetings.  Tick bite…Lyme disease?  Six hour front-lawn laugh- and cry-fest with coworker/friend.  Picked for Relevant sponsorship, might as well have won the lottery.  Insomnia.  Anxiety.  Teenage boy tears.  Canker sores, migraines, fibromyalgia flare up.  Report cards.  Fevers.  A boy I’m particularly close to around here moved to a different cottage.  Heart broke.  Alabama-friend found, safe and well.  Relief.  Fitful sleep.  Sixty days without a day off.  Husband handles it all in stride.  Kids, not so much.  Mom… not so much.

Wait, did you say it’s only Wednesday?  That I still have a home licensing inspection, two more doctor appointments to shuttle kids to, a staff meeting, end-of-year testing, company coming to stay for a month starting Friday, two birthdays, four sporting events, one preschooler party, a service plan meeting, fourteen meals, two in-progress bedroom makeovers, Mother’s Day, and the great potty-training-undertaking of 2011 still ahead of me, this week? 

More coffee, please.  

Life has sorta been this way since becoming a housemom.  Ten kids in one house will do that.  Always worry, always life on the roller coaster of things to do, things to feel, things to pour over in prayer.  And so much tiredness…physically, emotionally, spiritually

But God’s teaching me, in increasingly major ways, how to feel it all and be present for it all, but let it go at the same time.  How to kneel in my weakness and remain.  I haven’t loved it, but He’s taken me lower, and for the first time in my life, I’ve learned how to rest in dependence, on Him, on others.  I’ve learned how to receive encouragement and ask for it.  To let my husband rise where I fall.  To do one thing at a time.  To be weak and incomplete, and not be guilt-ridden by that.

What’s He teaching you, friend, where you are, today? 



13 comments:

  1. thanks for this glimpse of your life and the way God is teaching you. He is such a great God. He is reminding me of the fact that he lives in me and that is what brings true life.
    bless you,
    Kath

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  2. ...with gum boots of divine design...!

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  3. "But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Corinthians 12:9-10. I hope your week gets better!

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  4. Oh how I have had, wait, am having a week like this! My husband is out of town and it has been an adventure. Oh that I would know,

    "How to kneel in my weakness and remain."

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  5. Hoping you find your Al friend asap! Looking forward to reading through your lovely blog
    Blessings,
    Polly

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  6. Oh, Cara! When you said you were having a week, you weren't kidding! I don't know whether to laugh or cry for you! Praying for many, many gifts this week, girl, despite the craziness.

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  7. Beautiful writing...Hope things settle down!

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  8. Dear Cara,
    I am so humbled and encouraged by what God is teaching you, through the fire! So intense and so beautiful. I can't wait to meet you at Relevant! Congratulations to you, too! I pray His blessings of peace and hope to you.
    Love,
    Jennifer

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  9. oh wow cara. this is a heavy, heavy week. i didn't realize you were a house-mom... that's incredible, and hard. i am praying for you, friend... may God rise up and give you peace and deep, deep slumber.... love to you.

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  10. How to kneel in my weakness and remain.

    Well this message has been ringing out loud and clear today.. not sure how to do it but I guess that's where the dependence comes in. Wow, a majorly hectic week. I echo Em, peace and good solid rest to you.

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  11. Man! That is a wild week! Wowsa.

    The Relevant sponsorship caught my eye. Boy did I pick the wrong blog conference! I am so glad you get to go. What a blessing! Lisa~

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  12. Oh how I have had, wait, am having a week like this! My husband is out of town and it has been an adventure. Oh that I would know,

    "How to kneel in my weakness and remain."

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  13. thanks for this glimpse of your life and the way God is teaching you. He is such a great God. He is reminding me of the fact that he lives in me and that is what brings true life.
    bless you,
    Kath

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Your comments are such an encouragement. Thank you for sharing your valuable words.