Have you ever had one of those pull-your-hair-out, scream-at-the-top-of-your-lungs kind of days? One where all you want to do is just go to your room, close the door, crawl into bed and pull the covers up over your head, and hope that when you emerge it will be a new day. And maybe––just maybe––when you decide to re-enter the world it will be a “Mary Poppins” sort of day!
That is what I wished for every moment of the day I lived today. Let me share with you why I classified today as one of those stressful situation days. No matter where I turned there was another stressful situation just waiting for me. So picture this: I am now 8 months pregnant (aka: big, cranky, and tired) and I have a sick 18-month-old (aka: crabby, clingy, and whinny). My husband has planned a 60-mile “joy ride” on his road bike with some friends who share his mutual passion for the sport. Up until now my daughter had only had a fever and a stuffy nose. No big deal; “mommy nurse” can handle that with no problem! My husband said goodbye to us, and no sooner had he closed the front door when my daughter started vomiting. Oh, yuck! Then the diarrhea began! I knew I was in for it!
So the clean-up process began, first with her, then myself, and last on whatever household items got the worst of it (mainly the carpet and her bedding). Joy and bliss! Did I already mention I’m 8 months pregnant? It’s not turning out to be a good day, and it’s only 7:30 a.m. So, for the rest of the morning I juggled multiple loads of laundry, a sick child, an occasional bathroom break for me; and yes, not to mention I am testing my blood sugar and making sure I’m at least getting my regularly scheduled meals because of my diabetes. Did I mention I’m 8 months pregnant?
Finally, my husband arrived home! Help was on the way! (At least that’s what I thought.) It was now 1:30 and my daughter had perked up a little from the morning’s events. She actually had eaten a little lunch, and I had managed to get a shower of which I was in desperate need. But my husband was tired and in desperate need of a shower too!
Well, all afternoon my daughter had been just a mess! All she wanted to do was to be held, and of course by no one but me. But, can you really blame her? Around 4:30 I declared that I had to go to the grocery store, as today just happened to be grocery day and we practically had no food! After coaxing my daughter to go to her daddy, I managed to slip out of the house to go grocery shopping. I thought this little break would help me relax, but after fighting the crowds and the lines I was more stressed out than ever!
Now I’m home again, only to open the door to a crying child wanting her mommy to pick her up. All the while, the groceries need to be brought in and put away. Thankfully, my husband did help me with that task. Now it’s dinner time of course, and I have to cook. OK, now the family is fed and my daughter needs a bath. Guess who gets to do that? ME! Then it’s bedtime for her and again it’s ME who does it! Did I mention I’m 8 months pregnant?
Finally, my daughter is asleep, and I get to sit down! However, I’m beginning to feel a not-so-good feeling in my stomach. I really hope I’m not getting sick too!
Have you ever had a stressful situation day? How do you cope? Most of us would probably want to go hide, or maybe we would wait to be rescued, and then some of us would face it head on. The Bible declares, “So many enemies against one man all of them trying to kill me. To them I’m just a broken-down wall or a tottering fence. They plan to topple me from my high position. They delight in telling lies about me. They praise me to my face but curse me in their hearts. Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him. He alone is my rock and salvation, my fortress where I will not be shaken. My victory and honor come from God alone. He is my refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach me,” (Psalm 62:3-7).
It’s comforting to know there is strength and refuge found in God! So, just remember the next time you find yourself in a stressful situation day and you want to run and hide like me, run and hide with God.
