To My Fellow Exhausted Parents

Am I exhausted because I have a billion things to do and not enough time to do it? Am I exhausted because I am a stay at home mother with four kids, aged five and under? Am I exhausted because I have a 5 year old boy who wakes up at the crack of dawn and repeatedly declares loudly, “It’s morning! It’s morning!” till the whole house is awake with him? Am I exhausted because I went to bed at 2am the night before, because I worked on this blog during those precious uninterrupted hours after the children go to bed?

As a mother of young children, I can become completely overwhelmed with the load that I have before me.

How do I carry this load?

I am grateful for my husband. I am grateful for my family and friends. I am grateful for children who nap. These are the everyday, practical ways I am supported while I carry my load. However, I realise that when my load becomes overwhelming, it is usually self-inflicted.

I drive myself to exhaustion because I am restless with discontent. The world works on a system of work & reward; the harder you work, the more rewards you will reap. Though I’m not saying we should all just give up and become sluggards, the belief, that to get the most out of life, you have to work and work and work – – – is a lie. It’s never enough. The more you have, the more you want. It never ends.

Exhaustion, restlessness and discontent is humbling. It makes me realise my limitations. It makes me realise how much I need rest.

How do I carry this load? I am grateful that I have a God who is my maker, redeemer and saviour. He says, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28).

“It’s not the load that breaks you down, it’s the way you carry it.” ~ Lena Horne.

My load won’t break me down because someone who is loving and very able, has taken away my heavy load. I don’t need to be restless with discontent. I can rest, and be content. For this, I am very grateful.

What makes you exhausted? How do you carry your load?

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