You Don't Have to Hold Everything Together
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Hi Reader, With the start of a new school year, the overwhelm often starts. Schoolwork, laundry, lunches, errands, sibling squabbles, and extracurriculars all pull moms in different directions. We think, "If I just make the perfect schedule or the ideal plan, I'll be able to keep all these plates in the air. I'll be able to hold it all together. After all, I'm the mom; it's my job." Yes, as a mom, you have a lot of jobs. But, and this is a big but...it is not and never has been your job to hold everything together. You are not the glue-Jesus is. "The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together." Colossians 1:15-17 "The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven." Hebrews 1:3 Jesus is the glue that holds all of the universe together. It’s His job to sustain, strengthen, and shelter us—His creation. If He can hang the stars in the sky, He can help you figure out your weekly menu and get dinner on the table while settling a sibling dispute without losing your cool. He's got you. He's got your kids. He's got your marriage. In him, all things hold together. It’s not necessarily that you need to work harder, or find the perfect routine, or dig deep for more motivation. You need to rest in Christ and what he has already done. You need to seek His will for your life, so you know you’re doing what He has for you. No more, no less. You need to let him be your strength and shelter instead of relying on your own performance, plans, or determination. Just as Jesus sat down at the right hand of his Father when his earthly job was done, we can sit down at Jesus' feet and find rest for our souls even when it feels like all the things need us. We can trust that he will guide us to do what we need to do when we need to do it, without totally falling apart. So if you’re feeling like it all depends on you today, let this be your reminder: You don’t have to hold it all together. You just have to lean on the One who already is. What I've Been ReadingOverwhelmed Mom: Quiet the Chaos, Mind What Matters, and Enjoy Your Life Again by Jamie Erickson: Isn't it ironic that this fits so well with the topic of this email? I definitely write to you from a place of learning myself. I finished this book just last week, and it was just the words I needed-both comforting and convicting. I highly recommend it for any mom of any age or stage who knows what it is to be overwhelmed. This snippet from the back cover sums it up perfectly. The Try-Hard gospel of the world assures us that if we just got up earlier, stayed up later, and micromanaged every waking moment, we can outrun our overwhelm. But no amount of running on empty will ever help us catch up. Reshaping a harried life is long-game, soul work.
Overwhelmed Mom equips women to edit their lives with intention, find purpose and vision in the work God has called them to, and create daily rhythms that will help them steward their days with delight, not drudgery.
Tips of the MonthHomemaking/Discipleship: Does the chaos of Sunday morning ever leave you acting in a less-than-Christ-like way? Do you fume and stress as you try to get everyone out the door and to church, where you paint a smile on your face and tell everyone, "I'm good." I know that I am guilty of that at times. I also know that our families see both the "before church" actions and the "at church actions." What kind of example am I setting for them if I am harried, angry, and snappy with them? It is my hope that we can set a Christ-like example for them in word and deed at home, in the car, and at church. To take some of the stress and chaos out of Sunday morning, the best thing we can do is prepare the night before. Lay out the clothes. Have a plan for a quick and easy breakfast. Pack and lay out anything that needs to go along, Bibles, bags, etc. Being prepared ahead of time helps smooth the crazy on the home front and helps us model Christ's attitudes and actions to our children. Homeschooling: Homeschooling is about so much more than educating our children's minds with the "perfect" (hint: there is no such thing) curriculum. Read more here: You don't need to find a perfect homeschool curriculum. Book UpdateThank you to everyone who voted and left feedback on my cover options for Building Heart & Home: An Invitation to Grow Disciples While Managing Your Home. The cover has been chosen, and I'll be sharing that with you. I'm just waiting on the final files from my publisher. My developmental editor approved my outline, and I'm working on writing. This is the part that feels like it is creeping along as I squeeze bits of writing into my days. But in little chunks, 126, 453, and other random numbers of words at a time, the first chapter I will submit which is actually chapter 4, is taking shape. Amy Juett-the Calamus Mom: Helping Christian mothers battling feelings of overwhelm and inadequacy overcome the tug-of-war between discipling their children and homemaking so they can thrive in motherhood with confidence, purpose, and peace. www.amyjuett.com If someone forwarded this email to you and you would like to regularly receive encouragement, click here to subscribe and get my 8 favorite verses for moms to lean on in a handy and beautiful 4x6 printable format. *Calamus Mom is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Basically, I get a little kickback if you order from a link I share without any extra cost to you. Unsubscribe | Update your profile | 43327 US Highway 20, Ainsworth, NE 69210 |