Saturday, March 14, 2015

Hard stops for prayer

Its morning, but just barely. I've been sick, the kids are sick, even the dog is sick and nothing is going according to plan. Science Fair is next week, Mason needed to finish his writing, I need to grade Mac's math, Marshal had a rough week with a friend and the weekend is here already and will be gone before we blink. Today is a big day, band contest, presentation tonight, and I really don't want to get out of bed, but, I do.
Get dressed, make a plan for the day that is half over already, feel like a failure, struggle and then struggle some more, feeling anxious and moody and hormonal....

Hard stops for prayer (a tip from Ann Voskamp) I hear it in my mind before I pull out of the driveway, I'm alone in the car and I stop. I stop rushing, I step out of the swirling current of life for a minute to pray.

Lord, so much to do today, please grant me strength, please give me peace, please organize this mess! I'm inadequate to this task today, please take it. 

Back on the accelerator, driving to complete the errands that need to be completed, bank, haircuts, license bureau, meet Drason and he takes the boys and I have 1\2 an hour to relax and breathe and get my hair done....

I must look frightful, they assign me to a nice lady, about my age, near the back. She has a kind smile.

'You look nice, are you going anywhere special?'

She washes my hair and muscles unwind and I tell her my plans.
'You homeschooling? Me too!' She says as we chat...

We exchange stories and I learn that her daughter is a little older than my son and will be a senior next year. We talk about tonights event and how useful it might be for her daughter. She smiles and says she gets off work at 5 but she might try to come. I hand her a card, write directions on the back, and leave with my hair looking much better and my heart feeling lighter.

Her service lifts my burden, her care, her willing ear, the easy conversation, it comforts.

I meet Drason, we grab dinner before the presentation.  Its busy, there are lots of personalities, but when the evening draws to a close it is a success, and I am joyful and relieved.  Then the woman with a kind smile walks over to me and says 'Hi, I made it tonight!' It takes me a moment to recognize her, but then we laugh and embrace like old friends.
Today, my almost too tired, frazzled, busy day, ends with a sense of serendipity, coming full circle, and seeing how even my most inadequate state of being is upheld, guided, directed, and blessed by my heavenly Father.

Hard stops for prayer. 

Thank you Lord for peace, and strength, and organization. Thank you for guiding my paths, thank you for using me as your vessel. Thank you for blessing me beyond anything I could ask or imagine. Thank you for your goodness to me.
Amen







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