How to Accomplish the 1,000,001 Things On Your Plate

My neck is tight.
My shoulders
tense. I have
way too much
on my plate.
One million and one things to accomplish before it gets too late.
“They”
were right when they said that
a mother’s job is
never done.
Picking up after and reminding and encouraging and loving and supporting and listening and loving and
picking up after and reminding and encouraging and loving and supporting and listening and loving and
picking up after and reminding and encouraging and loving and…..
Not to mention the husband.
And the dogs.
And church.
And worship team.
And Bible study.
And Via de Cristo.
And writers’ group.
And swimclub.
And preparingforChristmasatmymom’shouse.
Andplayingkeyboardforthekids’programatchurch.
And…what am if forgetting?
Andexercise.
Andyardworkandcleaningthehouse.
Andchangingthefurnacefilter.
And…and… time to read my Bible and pray and listen and rest. THAT should always come first, but it usually ends up being last.

A tornado of things to do and places to be.
I struggle and strive
and some days
are good
but some days
are
just
a
blur.

I stop.
I crumble.
I collapse
on the couch
and ask, “When will it end, Lord?”

A sigh escapes.
I sink into the entangled sweatshirt-blanket balled up on the couch.
I listen for the Lord’s sweet voice.

“There is an answer for that which you seek. It’s tiny, but powerful.”
“Yes, Lord. What is it? I really need to know.”
I wait.
“No.”
“No? What do you mean, ‘No’.”
“No.”
Silence. His peace fills the room.
I exhale my stress.
I inhale His peace.
A gentle whisper to my soul, “Just say no.”
And then I understand. I realize that I didn’t really think ‘no’ existed.
Now…I KNOW.