(article by TLC writer Christina Black which appears in the
summer issue of TLC)
“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.”
Dear
Ones,
Sometimes life makes us tired. Very
tired. And in those moments we are possibly tired in body, mind, or spirit. We
get tired of coming up with a new way to do things, and we get tired of trying
to earn the praise of those around us. If we ever get brave enough to say
anything, people look at us like- you are tired? What? You professors only
teach 15 hours a week! You are just a pastor’s wife! You stay at home! Why
would YOU be tired? And on it goes. Or they say: So fix it- you get to make your own schedule
half the time, and that may be true or not… however, people don’t always
understand.
If your mind is tired, it affects both
how you think and how you feel. You will notice it in the following ways: You
will lose initiative and it gets difficult to do anything you don’t absolutely
HAVE to do. You may even get tired of learning. The very mention of a teachers’
meeting, ministry conference, ladies retreat, or other, may make you want to
roll your eyes. If your body is tired you will feel aches and pains, and find
it difficult to go to sleep or wake up. If your spirit is tired you may find
yourself avoiding worship, friends, Bible study, and even prayer.
Some things I have tried that do help
when I am tired in mind, body, and or spirit are to:
1)
Try to take a day each week to get away from all things ministry or work
related.
2)
Be nice to yourself. Quit expecting the unrealistic.
3)
Pick a moment when the light goes off at night- whether you want to go to sleep
or not.
4)
Drink water.
5)
Be quiet.
6)
Eat something that is good for you.
7)
Take a daily vitamin.
8)
Sell a hat. [Sometimes we just need to quit doing quite so much] “There is a
time for everything, but maybe not all at the same time.”
9)
Go for a walk.
10)
Breathe deeply.
11)
Put some routines in place.
12)
Follow directions. Read three times and just do it once.
13)
Stop eating sugar before bed.
14)
Remember you have nothing to prove.
15)
Remind yourself that it is ok to rest or do something fun.
16)
Listen to a song.
17)
Watch the coffee
18)
Control your mind. [Resist thoughts such
as “No one appreciates all I do.” and ”I am all alone in this.”]
19)
Talk to God honestly.
As the busy, busy recent days of
finishing a doctorate, keeping up all the work related to the education
department of HSBC going, and managing a home and family, have flown by, I have
often thought I could not take another step. But I learned that these 20 tips
really do help. Ladies, I suggest you try them- consistently.
What a difference it makes when you
decide what you can change and what you can’t, when you feel better, rest your
mind or heart, when you get some sleep, when you allow yourself to call or text
a friend and just chat, or slow down a little.
In
the coming summer days, I will close my final school year as Ed Chair for HSBC,
pack our way out of our offices, pack up our personal belongings, leave the
only home we have ever owned, get in a rental car for deputation services, and
again head overseas for the second time this fall. When the stress of a big
change or job hits you, it is good to have some tips on hand. You can be as
surrendered as possible in your soul, but it does not make the details any
easier. The dirt behind the couch still needs cleaned, the files still need
sorted, the boxes are still heavy, and the suitcases need packed. But if you
try to handle it all in your own strength, you will falter or fail. Remember,
it is His burden and He has promised to keep it light. But we need to cooperate
with Him!
With
love, dear friends,
Christina
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