 The Balancing Act…. Love the husband, check. Care for the kids, check. Cook the dinner, clean the house, check. Do the laundry, check. Oh, you’re working on your degree. Almost forgot, study and do your homework, check. Oh, did I mention you work a full-time job? I’m sorry. Yes, you work a full-time job. It’s 10 P.M., did you forget anything? Whew! You’re exhausted, but finally, everything is done. You’re soaking in a bath and going to sleep! But first, hummm, did you do everything? Something’s missing. What is it? Wow! Time with God! You didn’t pray today, or read, or spend any time in His presence. How, are you supposed to fit that in too? You somehow find a way to grab your bible or get on your knees and spend 10 minutes before your eyes feel heavy. But at least you did “something”, right? Rinse and repeat… Does this sound familiar? Am I the only one who’s day goes like this? I’m sure I am no exception to the rule. As women we all have very similar days. And it can become very overwhelming sometimes. Sometimes my husband looks at me as I walk my proverbial tight rope and he just shakes his head and says, wow baby I appreciate you. Is there anything you need me to do? And right now, you all know I say yes right? Wrong! I say, No. Why do I do that to myself? Is it because I want it done “my” way? Or is it because he will take too long to complete the tasks? I can’t say that I have the answer to that. I guess I’m a work in progress. How many of you do the same thing? You know you’re tired, and need to use a life-line, but you don’t use it. Then we get in our 10-minute prayer time and complain to God about how tired we are. As I’m getting older, I am learning that God will never allow more than we can handle. He does provide a way of escape (1 Cor. 10:13). The trick to it is to recognize the escape route. Then TAKE IT! It may not be the way you like it or happen in your time frame. But the goal is completion, isn’t it? So, if it gets completed, at the end of the day that’s all you need. As women we are natural nurturers and natural multi-taskers. I personally believe God created us that way and when He said that “it was not good for man to live alone” (Gen 2:18), that’s what He was talking about. However, I do not believe He created us to be superwomen. Or that He intended for us to take on the weight of our homes. Balance is essential. And quality is key. If we do not stop and seize the moments, we have completing some of these tasks, we will miss amazing family moments. Our most value assets are encased in the very homes that seem to overwhelm us at times. I’m learning to pick my battles. And sometimes that means, the laundry waits until the weekend. Or the dinner is takeout or sandwiches. Whatever makes my life easier and allows me to have my time for myself and with God. I am not efficient if I’m running on empty or doing it all out of a frustrated spirit. So, go ahead, get that degree! Raise your kids or babysit the grands (sometimes). Love your husbands and spend time with God. It will all fall in place. One day the kids will be grown and gone. The degree will be finished. The chores will be less. Who will you be? Will you be an older, angrier version of yourself that your kids don’t want to visit, and your husband doesn’t know? Master the act of balancing your role while not losing yourself. She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: “Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all. ” Proverbs 31: 27-229 Guest Blogger, Latonia Dessasau
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