Drowning In Our Blessings.

Ever feel like no matter what direction you turn there is someone who needs you, something that needs doing or something that has been forgotten?

Or like if just one more thing is added to your already overflowing plate everything is going to come crashing down and bury you in the process?

Well, if you haven't guessed from the title, that is how it has felt around here for the past little while... but something tells me we are not alone.

The feeling of drowning in diapers, dishes, laundry, sleepless nights, to-do lists and "mom, mom, mom... MOM!" I think - actually I KNOW - is something we all have gone through or are currently going through if we have been blessed with children and a family.

But I also think that drowning, or at least feeling like we are drowning is a bit of a right of passage so to speak. The old saying, "What doesn't kill us makes us stronger." connects to one of my favourite bible passages,

Jeremiah 29:11,

"For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord, " plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

This passage gives hope in times of darkness and struggle. It is a reminder that God allows us to face challenges and struggles not to hurt or break us, but to help shape us into the people we are meant to be and to grow closer to Him.

There is another saying, or something I have heard a lot, "God doesn't give us anything we can't handle" and this connects to Isaiah 43:2,

"When you pass through the water, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze."

Just another reminder that no matter what the struggle is that we are facing, He is here with us.

If we speak with anyone a generation, or two, ahead of us they know all too well what we're feeling because they've not only lived and experienced the feeling of drowning in our blessings, but they've survived it and come out on the other side stronger, wiser and overall better from it, thanks to the grace of our Lord. And the reality is, I don't think any of us who are blessed with children and families get to skip this beautifully chaotic stage of life.

I was at a tradeshow yesterday and the gentleman sellling birdhouses behind me commented on how busy I seem to be as I had my 1-yr-old son and 7-yr-old daughter with me. He told me him and his wife had 6 kids and remembers all too well the days where they felt like they were drowning, but how today they would give anything for one of those chaotic days back just to experience their kids little again. I told him that my husband and I try to remind ourselves, when things start to feel overwhelming, that we will for sure feel the same way one day as we try to give ourselves a little perspective.

So if all of the beautiful blessings in your life are piling up and you're feeling like the weight of everything will inevitably crush you... know it won't. Know you're not alone. Know that others have walked this road and come out on the other side and know that our Lord is here with us, walking this path with us and has a plan for us that, if our hearts are open, will make us better and bring us closer to Him.

Thank you, once again, for taking time to read my thoughts.

If you're currently in this stage, or have already survived it, and would like to share advice or words of wisdom I would love so much to hear from you!

God bless,

Sarah