When Life's a Drain
Here we are setting on the cusp of yet another Christmas, and I, as my generation is apt to do, find this is a time for looking back, for taking stock and for remembering...it seems impossible that already 63 Christmases have come and gone as I watch the years like marching soldiers pass in colorful parade. Sometimes I barely recognize the woman who stares at me in the mirror when I brush my teeth at night. Old age is a peculiar thing...you stay so busy with the business of life that you barely notice it's approach till you wake one morning and find it there. Then you begin to feel yourself standing apart from the rest of the world...it's like you feel at work when your shift has ended and you're watching the next shift come in to get ready for their day..you may watch with interest, but your work is done and you're just waiting for your ride to go home.
The old Poet told us to "rage against the night"...but frankly, raging takes too much energy. I am neither fearful are angry as the darkness closes in. Not that I want to go home just yet...I love my Grandchildren a great deal and still to a certain extent I think my husband needs me. But the journey takes it's toll on us all.
The Bible calls us "earthen vessels" in 2 Corinthians 4:7 and that's what we are...we carry so many things...and in a lifetime we are emptied and filled times without number. We try to fill our children with confidence, love, kindness, education, positive reinforcement, all the good things they need in life. But harsh words, discouragement, illness, death, failure and a hundred other things empty them out before the day is through. Just listen to the news or talk to a negative friend and you can feel the life force drain from you. We are continually "poured out" in the process of living and we are continually surrounded by tired, empty people.
We can do a lot to replenish others but to be really effective we must work to replenish ourselves..we forget that part. Time spent in the Word is essential as is prayer and meditation..but so is a good diet and exercise. As much as possible we need to surround ourselves with positive people and activities we love, but it's not all as "cut and dried as that". Life can be very hard and sometimes we are drained to the point that we have difficulty refilling ourselves...it is then that we go into survival mode. At such times if we just keep moving, the storm will pass and the journey will continue but over time these things begin to take their toll. Proverbs 13:12 tells us that "Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life". We have our "Blessed Hope" in Christ and unless we "keep our eyes on the prize" we will be ineffective as Christians. But we can be so "heavenly minded" that we are of no earthly good. I believe balance is an important key in life. We must do all we can to help replenish our brothers and sisters and also what we can to replenish ourselves. Allow yourself a victory once in a while. Sometimes we get so busy helping other people across the finish line that we forget to cross it ourselves.
Sad as it may be, you cannot depend on others to understand our journey. It is good when they offer strength and encouragement but you must not expect anyone else to carry you. Not your friends, not your family, not your mate, not even Christ to the extent we might like him to. God is our hope and our lifeline but he will not make it easy for you. He is developing you into what he wants you to be and like a good parent He wants you to learn to walk by yourself. We tend to spend our lifetimes looking for easy fixes when he is trying to make us strong.
The old Poet told us to "rage against the night"...but frankly, raging takes too much energy. I am neither fearful are angry as the darkness closes in. Not that I want to go home just yet...I love my Grandchildren a great deal and still to a certain extent I think my husband needs me. But the journey takes it's toll on us all.
The Bible calls us "earthen vessels" in 2 Corinthians 4:7 and that's what we are...we carry so many things...and in a lifetime we are emptied and filled times without number. We try to fill our children with confidence, love, kindness, education, positive reinforcement, all the good things they need in life. But harsh words, discouragement, illness, death, failure and a hundred other things empty them out before the day is through. Just listen to the news or talk to a negative friend and you can feel the life force drain from you. We are continually "poured out" in the process of living and we are continually surrounded by tired, empty people.
We can do a lot to replenish others but to be really effective we must work to replenish ourselves..we forget that part. Time spent in the Word is essential as is prayer and meditation..but so is a good diet and exercise. As much as possible we need to surround ourselves with positive people and activities we love, but it's not all as "cut and dried as that". Life can be very hard and sometimes we are drained to the point that we have difficulty refilling ourselves...it is then that we go into survival mode. At such times if we just keep moving, the storm will pass and the journey will continue but over time these things begin to take their toll. Proverbs 13:12 tells us that "Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life". We have our "Blessed Hope" in Christ and unless we "keep our eyes on the prize" we will be ineffective as Christians. But we can be so "heavenly minded" that we are of no earthly good. I believe balance is an important key in life. We must do all we can to help replenish our brothers and sisters and also what we can to replenish ourselves. Allow yourself a victory once in a while. Sometimes we get so busy helping other people across the finish line that we forget to cross it ourselves.
Sad as it may be, you cannot depend on others to understand our journey. It is good when they offer strength and encouragement but you must not expect anyone else to carry you. Not your friends, not your family, not your mate, not even Christ to the extent we might like him to. God is our hope and our lifeline but he will not make it easy for you. He is developing you into what he wants you to be and like a good parent He wants you to learn to walk by yourself. We tend to spend our lifetimes looking for easy fixes when he is trying to make us strong.
There used to be stories about parents and caregivers who would throw children into the water to teach them to swim. The children were in no danger of drowning the parent was right there watching over them. This seems cruel but they were trying to teach the child to trust that the water could be managed and that with effort they could learn how to swim, My Mother-in-Law tied a rope to her boys and waited on higher ground till they figured out how to swim. God is kind of like that...we may not always be aware of his direct presence in a situation but we can trust that our rope is tied,
Life is not easy and along the way there will be many things you do not understand. We battle the dark forces of an enemy who is far beyond anything we could ever imagine. Sometimes I think we have only the barest idea what is really going on. Working in this environment It is easy to get discouraged and it is easy to lose your way. There are times when you feel empty and drained and as if there is nothing left inside to give. But it is not just Christians who feel this way, it is an experience common to all humans ....but at least we have a hope, a source we can go to, The fountain of life we can go to from which we can draw strength to go on, We must be wise if we are to finish our journey, take care of yourself, don't let yourself get too tired, don't consume to much junk, either physically or mentally, remember there is a strong link between the body soul, and spirit...if you are physically drained your spirit and soul will suffer, Seek out people who don't "pull you down". But above all don't quit..even if you feel like you have absolutely nothing left. You will make it even if you, looking back never figure out how..God is there in often unseen ways..like the rope holding the boys up so they could learn to swim...he is making you strong.
Be Strong! - Maltbie Davenport Babcock
Be Strong!
We are not here to play, to dream, to drift;
We have hard work to do and loads to lift;
Shun not the struggle-face it; 'tis God's gift.
Be strong!
Say not, "The days are evil. Who's to blame?"
And fold the hands and acquiesce- oh, shame!
Stand up, speak out, and bravely in God's name.
Be strong!
It matters not how deep entrenched the wrong,
How hard the battle goes, the day how long;
Faint not-fight on! Tomorrow comes the song.
Life is not easy and along the way there will be many things you do not understand. We battle the dark forces of an enemy who is far beyond anything we could ever imagine. Sometimes I think we have only the barest idea what is really going on. Working in this environment It is easy to get discouraged and it is easy to lose your way. There are times when you feel empty and drained and as if there is nothing left inside to give. But it is not just Christians who feel this way, it is an experience common to all humans ....but at least we have a hope, a source we can go to, The fountain of life we can go to from which we can draw strength to go on, We must be wise if we are to finish our journey, take care of yourself, don't let yourself get too tired, don't consume to much junk, either physically or mentally, remember there is a strong link between the body soul, and spirit...if you are physically drained your spirit and soul will suffer, Seek out people who don't "pull you down". But above all don't quit..even if you feel like you have absolutely nothing left. You will make it even if you, looking back never figure out how..God is there in often unseen ways..like the rope holding the boys up so they could learn to swim...he is making you strong.
Be Strong! - Maltbie Davenport Babcock
Be Strong!
We are not here to play, to dream, to drift;
We have hard work to do and loads to lift;
Shun not the struggle-face it; 'tis God's gift.
Be strong!
Say not, "The days are evil. Who's to blame?"
And fold the hands and acquiesce- oh, shame!
Stand up, speak out, and bravely in God's name.
Be strong!
It matters not how deep entrenched the wrong,
How hard the battle goes, the day how long;
Faint not-fight on! Tomorrow comes the song.