I’ll never forget my shock the first time I heard it.
“If there is a loss of oxygen in the cabin, masks will drop down from above your heads. If you are with a small child, please put on your own mask first.”
First?! Were these people insane? No way was I going to put on my mask and leave my little one with no oxygen; what a ridiculous thing to say!
Of course after my mama-bear response cooled, I thought about the reality of the hypothetical situation. If I’m flying with children, there’s a good chance I’m flying with more than one. And if I’m the adult looking out for those children, I’d better be able to breathe.
It’s advice we’d do well to take when our feet are on the ground, too.
Today was one of those days.
I had a class to teach, everyone was running late, I had work issues involving other people I couldn’t get in contact with, and my hair was acting stupid. (Why does it always do that on days already destined to go badly?) On our way home after class, my son got sick … in the car, a block from our house. I came inside, got everything cleaned up and everyone into their rooms for afternoon rest-and-reading time, and snuggled in with the baby for a nap … and woke to find out I’d forgotten my older son needed a ride home from *his* special class so he’d had to get a ride home with someone else … since my phone had been off and I was sleeping.
It was a slightly less than stellar day.
I’ll never forget a discussion I had with a friend years ago. We were lamenting a bit about how sometimes we just felt exhausted by the sheer number of demands placed upon our days by our children. We both had young ones who needed attention and feedings overnight, as well as older ones who required training and teaching all day long. Sometimes it felt like there wasn’t enough coffee in the world to get us through an entire day. And then she said, “You know, everyone acts like if what you’re doing is difficult, you must be doing something wrong. But I’m starting to think that’s not true. Maybe, the fact that it’s hard, means it’s hard, and you’re doing it right!”
Motherhood takes a lot out of us. If you were to plan to run a marathon tomorrow (and if you are, please don’t tell me, because I want to like you, okay?) you wouldn’t do it on an empty stomach! Athletes load up with carbs before a competition especially, knowing they’re going to be burning right through those sugars and calories as they work. Our friend on the plane needs oxygen if she’s going to offer help to those around her. And we’re no different. The cultural air around us lacks pure oxygen. The people around us need help.
We are designed to live from a soul filled with the oxygen of the Spirit. And just as an athlete wouldn’t go into a competition starving, we shouldn’t go into our days without having taken time to be filled with what the Lord has for us. We need to tune our hearts to His; to seek His wisdom for the day; to receive instructions from His Word; to have our worries and fears calmed by leaving them with our Father.
If you didn’t take time this morning, it’s not too late! Stop where you are, find a quiet spot, and take some time to read His Word and ask Him to speak to you through it. I love to sit with a journal and write down scriptures that stand out to me, and how I can apply them in my life. Share your burdens and thoughts with the Lord and ask Him to reveal His heart to you. And breathe deep, dear one. Your Father loves you. And He wants you to keep breathing.
I’m so glad you’re joining us during this fun launch week for Encouraging Beautiful Motherhood!
Today I have a great giveaway– one of my favorite things: a copy of Ann Voskamp’s One Thousand Gifts! Entries remain open until Saturday, April 21 at 9pm EST.
**UPDATE: Kate, you’ve won! Please email your address to me and I’ll have it shipped out right away!**
Please just leave a comment to enter! I’m having so much fun with these giveaways, I just wish I could have you all over and have a real-life party! I suppose we’ll have to do all our squealing in private, though, for now. So if you’re enjoying the site, please subscribe, like the facebook page, follow, share … all that fun stuff. And I hope you’ll read yesterday’s Welcome post and enter that giveaway too–it involves chocolate!
**Linking up with Courtney at Women Living Well today! Lots of great links here!
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