When God Says STOP!

Posted by Lynnae on February 10, 2008

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Stop

Sometimes God just says STOP!

Warning: The post ahead has nothing to do with personal finance and frugality, but everything to do with my life over the last week.

It’s been a week. A really long week. But let me back up further than that. January was a busy month. My husband started his new job full time, and though it’s been a blessing, waking up to the sound of an alarm at 3:30 in the morning has been a little rough. He gets up for the day, and I reset the alarm for 5:30, when I have to get up for the day.

Since Jim goes to work early, it also means he gets to spend the afternoons with us. But then he works a couple of evenings a week also. In addition, he has worship team practice once a week, so he’s gone for three nights on a regular basis, until high school basketball season ends, and he doesn’t have to work the nights of the game broadcasts anymore. If that were all, it wouldn’t be so bad.

However, in the last few weeks, he’s been gone for a worship leader’s retreat and a deacon’s retreat. Again, no surprise. These things always come up in January. I was thinking I could handle things on the home front. But that’s not all.

We’ve had several snow days, where I’ve been home with the kids all day on days I was planning to get other things accomplished. In addition, I thought this would be a great time to start working out, which meant getting up even earlier. And of course, I was trying to keep up with my three blogs, read a couple of books, cook healthy meals so we don’t eat out, and declutter the house. Did I ever mention I tend to be an all or nothing type person? I’m definitely going through an "all" phase.

About a week ago, I decided I needed to be still before God. The problem is, instead of being still, I tried to squeeze my stillness into an already too full schedule. And of course, it never occurred to me to ask for help. Not from my husband, not from my friends…not from anybody. Did I mention I’m pretty independent too?

Since I didn’t slow down on my own to take care of myself, I think God decided to slow me down. Tuesday I got sick. Really sick. Sicker than I’ve been in a really long time. All day Wednesday I slept. And Thursday. And Friday. I slept while the kids were in school. I slept when my husband was home in the afternoons to watch the kids. Thursday morning, I even put on a DVD for my son in our bedroom and slept beside him while he watched.

Every time I thought I was feeling better, I’d try to get something accomplished around the house, and every time I’d start to feel awful again. So I rested.

I don’t say this to make anyone feel sorry for me. In many ways I did this to myself. But I did want to explain my absence from this blog over the last week. I realize I haven’t been responding to comments, and I’ve been really slow to respond to emails this week, and I apologize for that.

Now that I’m feeling a bit better and starting to make it through the day on one nap instead of two, it’s time to get back into my daily routine. Only first I need to change my routine. I’ve realized in the last week that I can’t do it all. And that it’s OK to ask for help. Thank you Mrs. Micah for giving me a guest post to use on Thursday. And Jim, if you’re reading this, I promise to ask for help more often. (My husband really is a great guy and helps anytime I ask him to….I just never ask…I don’t want to make him sound like a bad guy at all).

Mostly I’ve learned that if I take the time to be still, the world goes on without me. I put far more responsibility on myself than I was ever meant to handle. While I was sleeping the week away, nothing fell apart, except my house. The kids made it to school, everyone was fed, my blog kept running, meetings I was supposed to attend happened without me. I’m not indispensable, and that’s freeing.

So this week, I’m going to ease back into my routine. Only this time, I’m going to take the time to be still before God each morning. Because I learned this week, I do have the time. I just didn’t know it before.

Photo by totalAldo.

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Comments

10 Responses to “When God Says STOP!”

Mrs. Micah on February 10th, 2008 6:35 am

*hugs* It’s interesting, you know, we could have been designed not to need recharging. But we weren’t.

Hope this week goes much better for you!
Sean on February 10th, 2008 6:45 am

Glad that you are feeling better. It is amazing at what has to happen for us to slow us down sometimes. You have made a wonderful decision about slowing down every morning to be with God. We have found that even a small amount (15-30 min.) of time will make a HUGE difference.
heather on February 10th, 2008 6:47 am

Praise the Lord He only took you out of commission for a week–usually He knocks me down for months. Last year it was a knee injury and sickness, the year before that it was something else, and the year before that something else. Yeah–I am still working on getting still.
It is always amazing when He does it though. Freeing yet awe inspiring not to mention inspiring quite a bit of soul searching and “what is His plan for me?”

Glad you are feeling better. God is good.
boomeyers on February 10th, 2008 9:34 am

Glad you are getting back on your feet! God slapped me with that one the day after Christmas and it took a while to climb back out. I have been spending the morning with the Lord for about 15-20 minutes and it makes ALL the difference in the world to have that recharge time being with Him! Good luck on making this important time a mandatory part of your day. It’s hard, but possible!!
Rob Madrid on February 10th, 2008 9:45 am

Hi Lynnae

that is one reason why I have such a love/hate relationship with the church. On one hand I enjoy being involved and busy, but on the other hand they will suck you dry if you allow them too. We’ve found a pretty good balance in our current church, we’re both involved (me - snacks and washing of cups Wife- organizing singers and singing) but neither requires several evening commitments or having to be there early every week.

I sometimes wonder if Trent over at the simpledollar has several clones, how he manges to keep on top of everything considering he and his wife both work full time and have young children is beyond me. Maybe he never sleeps?? It was an adjust to for me heading back to work after being a house husband for 5 years and we don’t have kids to deal with.
Kaye on February 10th, 2008 12:11 pm

He really has a way of getting our attention sometimes, doesn’t He? I have been through this same thing…several times…for the same reasons. You’d think I’d learn after a while. I regularly have to remind myself to just relax and be still, but often have trouble because of all of the to-do lists in my head. This is one of my biggest prayers for myself…that I will manage only what He wants me to and everything else will take care of itself. It’s amazing how that prayer works! Take care of yourself-your family does need you to be around to be the wife/mom you are meant to be.
Making Cents of Debt on February 10th, 2008 2:24 pm

Hi Lynnae - I’m so glad you’re feeling better. Isn’t it nice to know someone is looking out for you even if it means you are going to get knocked for a blow. As women, moms, daughters, co-workers, we tend to put on the hat that defines us as the nurturer. Unfortunately, we don’t always remember to take care of ourselves.
Carol on February 10th, 2008 9:05 pm

I had read your post about being still awhile back and put it into practice. It works and I’ve been meaning to thank you, so thanks.
Glad to hear that you’re doing better, mine held on for six weeks and seems to come and go as it pleases. Take care.
Becky@FamilyandFinances on February 11th, 2008 8:34 am

I think God uses illness a lot to slow us down when we get too much on our plate. He’s done it several times to me. Clever guy, isn’t he?