I had “the hurry” real bad today. Do you ever have “the hurry” too? It’s this constant hurry or rush from one thing to the next. The hurry can be both mental and physical. The mind jumps from thought to thought and the body jumps from activity to activity, with rest for neither - just this constant movement of the mind and body. It can be exhausting, and sometimes you don’t even realize it’s happening until you find the time to rest.
Today was one of those days for me, and yes, I didn't even notice until I sat on the couch after the children went to bed. I sat there reflecting on my day. It was busy; I felt like I had no time to breathe, and by the end, I was in a grumpy mood. I found energy, or even this sense of adrenaline, in today's activities, but when I sat down and finally gave myself time to breathe, I thought to myself, why did I need to make the day so full? Why could I not take things a bit slower? Was I afraid of disappointing others or myself? Was I fearful of missing out on something fun or exciting? Was I scared of appearing weak or lazy?
Here’s how today went. I woke up groggy after being woken up three times throughout the night by my 13-month-old - will he ever sleep through the night? I am doubtful. I need a shower first morning to bring myself back to life. My husband juggles the breakfast circus in the kitchen. We eat quickly, brush our teeth, put on our shoes, and run around the house trying to collect everything we need to leave - water bottles, snacks, extra clothes, laptops, backpacks, sunglasses, diapers, sweaters, and sunscreen. I think we have it all - let’s go! We drive my husband to work.
After the work drop-off, we meet friends at a pumpkin patch. It was so lovely - a beautiful fall morning in Texas. We spent three hours there. We drove 40 minutes back home. The children fell asleep in the car - of course! How will I transfer them? I decided to drive around longer to keep the nap going. Then, I decide I need a break, too, and drive home. As soon as I pull in the driveway, the children wake up. Well, there goes my nap for the day.
At this point, everyone is tired, hungry, and angry - a terrible combination for anyone to be, let alone toddlers. I quickly whip something up for lunch and use my expert negotiation skills with the children. The tears have stopped, and now we can eat. While eating, the neighbor writes and invites us over for an impromptu afternoon campfire. It sounds lovely, but I was planning to run errands this afternoon. Hmm, maybe I can make it work. We finish lunch, jump in the car, and head out for errands in the hope of making the campfire, too.
The errands are complete, and we arrive back home, but the baby has fallen asleep in the car again, and my three-year-old wants to paint his pumpkin. I have not mentioned the backyard campfire to the children yet. I also need to put away the groceries still, prepare dinner, and pick up my husband from work. Hmm, can I make it all work? Of course, I made it all work. I am the best mom, wife, friend, and neighbor - EVER.
Today was like most days. Different activities and thoughts but the same hurry. Why do I always feel so weary of rest in my mind, in my body and in my soul?
I was reminded of Matthew 11:28-30 says:
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
As a mother of a one-year-old and a three-year-old, I often feel like I am in the trenches. I do “the hurry” as if it were a dance all day long and sometimes all night long as well. I worry and hurry from one thing to the next when surely I should just take a seat before the Lord.
Luke 10:38-42 tells us, “As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work alone? Tell her to help me!” “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one.[a] Mary has chosen what is better, which will not be taken away from her.”
I am certainly Martha, and wonder, why can I not be more like Mary? Perhaps you can relate, no matter what stage of life you are in. As the last quarter of this year blows by us and 2024 comes to a close, let us be reminded of the power of taking things a bit slower and finding peace in Him, in the chaos and in the hurry of our lives.
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