It’s summer break, and a couple weeks ago, three of our four children were in Louisiana. For two whole weeks. They stayed with my parents after our long 4th of July weekend and got to participate in lots of fun “grandparent-y” things. Eating snow cones and ice cream with yummy toppings, woodworking, playing in the pool, playing volleyball and badminton in the front yard, and attending Dinosaur Camp. It was a blast for them and a respite for me, having only one child at home who needed my constant attention instead of four.
Does that make me a terrible mom, needing a respite from my children? I think to myself as I type this.
Yet I don’t think it does. I think it makes me a realistic mom.
Raising a family is hard work. If you don’t have children, then just ask any friend who does.
I love my kids, my husband, my life, yet it can often be physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually draining.
I know what some of you are thinking:
“Yeah it must be nice to have grandparents who will keep your kids for two weeks!”
And you would be correct. It is nice and wonderful and I’m grateful my parents are able to help out in that way. I know not everyone has that luxury.
And I’m sorry if you need a break but have no way of making it happen. I pray you are able to find some way to rest in the busyness of life.
But here is my point:
I had one kid at home during those two weeks.
One.
Yet I still could not get motivated to do all the things around this house that needed to get done.
At the beginning of my kids’ little vacation, I hit the ground running.
I cleaned out Jonah’s room (and that was a huge undertaking!)
I cleaned out the upstairs bookshelf
I washed all the sheets in the house
I mopped the floors
I finished the initial rough draft of a memoir I’m attempting to write
I cleaned out the playroom
I was on a roll.
But by the time the second week started, I had hit a wall. No longer could I get motivated enough to do much more than the laundry and work out.
I think part of the problem is that school is looming over my head. Even today I had to do some online training for our district.
And I just wasn’t ready.
Does anyone else feel this way or am I the only one?
I’m not ready for summer to end, for my kids to be back in school, for me to be back at work full-time, for Brie to head off to college.
I’m not ready.
Yet the Lord tells us that there is a season for everything. And seasons happen whether we are ready or not.
I may not be ready for Brienne to go to college.
But she is. It’s her season.
I may not be ready for Jonah’s last year in elementary school.
But it doesn’t matter. It’s his season.
We will all go through different seasons in our lives. Some will be good and easy and lovely. Some will be terrible and hurtful and difficult.
But the Lord promises to be with us through it all.
He is the constant through every season.
So today as I look around at all I need to do, as I think toward fall and how our lives will look, I will remind myself that Jesus is right beside me, walking with me, holding me up when I am weak, and carrying me when I cannot carry myself.
Jesus.
My constant.