As a mother of five children, I have had many a day where my children reach the end of their physical energy and succumb to the sleep their body desperately needs. Many times it was in humorous places like the bath, or over their dinner plate or while returning from an outing in the car. My older daughter Jenny managed to slip into sleep while at the zoo. She was viewing the animals and I could tell she was tired so I asked her “Jenny do you want to take a nappy? “ She said, “No I not tired!” Just as soon as the words left her mouth, her eyes shut and her head dropped onto her cousin’s shoulder. Sometimes they fight that sleep they so desperately need. When my youngest child, Josh was about 18 months old, he decided to push the limits on his exhaustion as some kids do. It had been a full day of outings and fun when I finally got him to sleep for his nap. He had not been sleeping long when his siblings woke him up with their loud play. I tried to get him back down, but to no avail. It was as if he had gotten a second wind. Therefore, I finally took him out of his crib and he joined the rest in play. By dinnertime, he was so cranky, he would cry over anything. Therefore, I put him to bed earlier than usual where he continued to cry for over an hour. Nothing I did could calm him down. Finally, I picked him up, pulled him to my chest, and rocked him gently. At first, he fought me holding him with his crying and pulling away, and then he finally relaxed in my arms. The gentle rocking lulled him into a peaceful sleep. As I lay him in his bed, I breathed a sigh of relief for I too was tired from the day. I returned to the chores that needed to be complete before I could give into that sleep. After a few hours, I was able to lie in my bed. I reached over to read my bible and came across Psalms 131:2 But I have stilled and quieted myself, just as a small child is quiet with its mother. Yes, like a small child is my soul within me. The events of earlier today came back to mind. Josh’s exhaustion and out of character behavior were ended as he came to rest in my arms. Then a thought hit me, what about me? Had I not been out of character today too? Due to my exhaustion, I also had pitched a fit but in a different way. I may not have been crying on the outside but my behavior showed I was on the inside. I had been impatient, agitated, and selfish with my husband and children. I had tried to handle it on my own and failed miserably. All my actions of the day came to my mind and God was saying, “Come to me my child and be still, let me help you. Why do you think you have to do it all on your own.” Then another verse came to mind. Matthew 11:28-29 Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. I realized that the life God wants me to live does not have to be full of stress and burden if I rely on him. I needed to take time each day to sit in his presence and allow him to fill me with his peace and quiet my soul. I have taken that lesson to heart most of the time, and my days go by so much better. However, sometimes I forget and let the busyness of life consume me, on those days I end up, as Josh was; exhausted, out of character and stressed. I have learned through the actions of my young son, that life is much better lived by taking the time to be still and ask for His help to calm my weary soul for He is the only one who can.
Beyond Exhaustion
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