I should've known. I can't
Right now, in all honesty I need a shot of humility. I need a gallon of grace. And I need a good kick in the pants.
I keep hearing a voice in the back of my head asking, "Who cut in on you? You were running a good race."
That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you. (Galatians 5:7-8)
I'm feeling overwhelmed. Overstimulated. Distracted. And yet, I feel needed. Necessary. I am back in the "job" saddle and I have to say it feels GREAT.
If I blatantly honest, I wonder if I am feeling the pull of improper persuasion like Paul talks about in Galatians.
Because for the last 3 years I have been a mom. A FULL TIME mom with some side-work thrown in there when I felt like I should exercise the typing muscles I used to have.
And now, I am still a stay at home mom, but I actually have a boss on the other end of those emails. I actually have been reintroduced to the hierarchy of results-matter work. I answer to someone now.
But I can not forget who I ultimately answer to.
It's the kind of persuasion that lures me away from my kids to check my inbox for the umpteenth time in an hour or respond to an "important" email that isn't nearly as pressing as my ego makes it out to be.
It is my inner persuader. It is my sin. It is my desire to gain the whole world and lose my soul. It's the oldest trick in the book.
It's that kind of persuasion that lights up my brain when I imagine all of the cool things I am going to do now that I have a label. Now that I am not just 'mom'. Now that I have, what I call my dream job.
It's only been a week and a half.
Let me repeat.
It's has only been 8 working days.
And in that short amount of time, I feel like my heart has been run away with by a trillion stallions. And I realize that I have been in a desert and I have been spiritually thriving. I have been existing on morsels of manna from God to get through every humbling struggle I face as a mom with two little kids. And because of that, I have been experiencing the painful process of growth.
And now? I am in danger of having found a new savior. I am tempted to melt down my newfound gold to fashion calves in the wilderness. I am in danger of redirecting my worship.
Because it's addicting. This accomplishment thing. It's like "Ahhh, that's what purpose feels like. I remember now."
But it's not purpose that I'm feeling swallowed by- not in the way God intended me to be purposed anyhow.
It's the hollow shell of a title that will ultimately give me glory that I'm allowing to fill the cracks in my soul. Those cracks that God gave me so I would turn to Him are now being ignored by distraction. By persuasion. By my own desire to do a good job.
And yes, I should be a good worker. I am a witness no matter if I am changing diapers or changing an editorial layout. So yes, I need to be efficient. Honest. Uphold my end of the bargain.
But my new normal means that I am over the moon and heartbroken all within moments of each other.
I make forward progress at "work" with my eyes glued to the screen, but missed my son teetering on the edge of the couch before he tumbled off. I landed a really cool product for placement, but didn't get to sit on the floor making my daughter smile without watching the clock.
This is a new balance that I need to work on. I am like a wave tossed to and fro. I need to CTFD. (Calm The F* Down) I don't endorse use of the F word, but when someone's right, they're right.)
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I believe this new development in my work/life balance is a part of God's plan. So I need to keep Him in the middle of it. Be sensitive to where he leads. Seize the moments I need to and let the others ones go. This is a new ball thrown in the air.
In case you didn't know, my husband can juggle. Not in the metaphorical sense, but in the 'I-may-wear-shoes-with-bells-on-the-toes-and-go-to-rennaisiance-fairs' way. He can literally juggle. When I asked him how he learned to do it in the first place, he said that he had to keep his back against the wall, because his natural tendency was to follow the balls lead and that's when you make mistakes and drop them.
If you anchor yourself against something that doesn't move; something that doesn't change- you can then focus on all of the things you have to keep in motion.
Ok, swish. That's the truth I've been needing to hear. When learning to juggle I need to find the wall. The unchanging God I know and love.
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Gosh, I know I am so dramatic. I know that once I settle down into this space I won't be so crazy out of it. I know I won't forget to eat, I won't forget to brush my teeth, I won't try to breastfeed while drafting an email to the publicity department at Nordstrom's. I will settle down.
But I don't want to miss this chance to learn something about myself.
I am only one great opportunity away from thinking I don't need God. We all are.
I am not strong. I am weak.
I am not qualified, I am a vessel He chooses to use.
I am not great, He is just so amazingly good.
He is trying to give me the desires of my heart- and I need to be mature enough to not bastardize that gift.
This is a warning letter to myself.
Knock it off. Go love on your kids. Get in the word. Get off your high horse. Kiss your husband. Stop drinking Diet Coke to keep your eyes open.
Relax. Have a glass of wine. Kiss that sexy man who is wearing your daughter in the Baby Bjorn on the lips. Give long hugs. And laugh. A lot.
Above all, once this transition from stay-at-home-mom to working-stay-at-home mom is complete, I want to make sure I had my priorities straight from the get go.
God comes first. Your family second. And yourself, that needs to always be dead last. Serve like crazy.
Just don't bow down to ego and the dollar because they make you feel important.
I am burnt out- thank God. Because it brings me back to Him.
And so I will smolder in thankfulness. He turns ashes to beauty. Or so I'm told.
"...to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of joy
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the Lord
for the display of his splendor."
Isaiah 61:3
Mmmmm.....good stuff Meg.
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