Do you ever feel paralyzed stressed?
Stressed Paralyzed, is a new term that I adopted into my vocabulary. I went to see the movie “Mom’s Night Out” with several moms in various stages of motherhood. Having my first two kids ten years apart connected me to more than one generation of moms. I could identify the stage of motherhood of each lady by her reaction to different parts of the movie from arguing with teens to kids drawing on the walls and every scenario in between.
The one phrase that we all identified with, you guessed it, Stress Paralyzed!
If you have never said it, I’m sure as a busy mom you have felt it.
In the movie the dad, played by Sean Astin, comes home after a business trip and finds his wife, played by Sarah Drew, hiding in the closet by following a trail of candy wrappers. She is frozen there paralyzed by the stress of the day.
We have all had those moments when we are completely overwhelmed by:
- The tasks that lay ahead of us
- The demands staring us down
- The little ones hanging on our pant legs needing guidance, instruction, love and understanding.
Just the thought of being mother,wife, lover, teacher, friend, employee, organizer, cleaner and schedule keeper can and has left me stress paralyzed.
The power of chocolate.
When I am that way I usually find myself locked away with a jar of chocolate, peanut butter, a box of graham crackers, and a gallon of milk while watching something like Wife Swap. Why Wife Swap? Don’t ask me why but sometimes I am just compelled to watch it. I guess it encourages me that there are some families out there more dysfunctional than mine. Also no matter how out there the moms are, at the end of the show they always seem to have positive impact on the other family. I am then able to reflect back on my amazing family, and the skills God has equipped me with to give me the hope and strength I need to forge ahead.
I won’t lie; chocolate is a vital part of the process.
There is something magical about the power of chocolate.
As that creamy piece of heaven melts in our mouths, moms are able to disappear or disconnect from their stress if only for a fleeting moment. It is in that moment when we take our focus off of our issues and give God a chance to say Psst! I’m here!
Learning to just breathe.
I remember one very stressful moment in my life.
- I had only been a mom for about a year
- I was going through a divorce
- Moving back in with my parents
- And turning 30!
The who, what, when, why, and how’s coming at me were completely overwhelming. I remember thinking to myself, “Just Breath, if you can just breath you will be o.k.” Then I cried out to the Lord, God help me I can’t even breathe!
In an instant He very gently blew across my face and reminded me that He was the Breath of Life. It was completely o.k. if I couldn’t breathe because He would breathe for me.
God’s arms are better than chocolate.
What a relief! At that moment I fell into my Daddy’s arms and let Him tell me everything would work out because He had a plan. “Hush now, you are safe and I am with you.” As I melted in His arms like chocolate melting in my mouth the fear slipped away and strength began to rise within me. I didn’t know what His plan was, but I knew I could trust Him. I wasn’t sure what move to make next, but I knew that His hand was at the end of those arms that were holding me.
When I was ready and began to breathe on my own, I would stand up and take hold of His hand.
How about you? Are you ready to let go of the stress in your life and relax in the arms of Jesus? There you will find clarity on the things you need to let go of and the order in which to tackle the rest of your list. Why not give Him the chance?
Melting in His love,
Madaline
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