I cannot deny it, but I feel so alone. I feel so empty inside, and life seems so hard right now. Andy has been working 7 days a week for the last TWO months, and I have to admit that my life has been centered around him. Take him away from my every day life and not seeing him till 10pm or later is difficult.
I find myself not wanting to do dishes, cook, clean, dress up, or even go outside. I would rather close the curtains and sleep the day away till he comes home. Yucky huh? It is a daily fight to count my blessings, and be the mom Sophia needs me to be. I must not let the way I feel or the absence of someone in my life dictate Who I am in Christ, or meant to be.
Picture taken from web...I could not help but see his JOY! :) |
Acts 17:28- In Him we live and move and have our being.
Job 12:10- In His hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind.
So much easier said than done! But I know every morning holds such fresh mercy and grace. Though every day is a battle, I know that God sees me. It is for HIS glory that I am a mom and take care of the home...meaning family. I can always find some way to be discontented and unhappy with life, so I must change my mind and attitude. I must replace my discontent and unhappy thoughts with the Truth and promises from His Word.
The mind as a woman is constantly going and going and going.
King David wrote this while he was in the wilderness of Judah:
O God, you are my God;
Earnestly I seek you:
My soul thirsts for you:
My flesh faints for you,
As in a dry and weary land
where there is no water.
So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary,
beholding your power and glory.
Because your steadfast love is better than life,
My lips will praise you.
So I will bless you as long as I live;
in your name I will lift up my hands.
My soul will be satisfied
as with fat and rich food,
and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips,
When I remember you upon my bed,
and meditate on you in the watches of the night;
For you have been my help,
and in the shadow of your wings
I will sing for joy.
My soul clings to you:
your right hand upholds me.
-Psalms 63: 1-8
I know that this was my encouragement today. My soul has been thirsting for that which does not fill me. Not saying that my husband is horrible, but in truth a relationship with God is one that ultimately fills me and makes me feel completely whole. Complete. Satisfied. At Peace.
Lastnight I just was realizing how my unrest was caused by me feeling so incomplete. Disappointed that my husband did not fill this void in me, we got into a fight. I know its silly now how does one ask a person to fill the void in my life and make me not feel so sad? But what could Andrew do? He cannot satisfy my deepest needs nor does he even understand everything in me! I wanted to feel whole--how can he even fill this unearthly void that I cannot even describe yet I feel it? People and things cannot fill this dark hole or even change how we feel. This thought came in my mind, and I thought and prayed....what do I do, Lord?
Today I opened up a book I have been reading and have been neglecting for a while. The chapter that I left off at was entitled: The Lord is All I Need. How fitting! The corresponding passage was Psalms 63. I read it....and it became a prayer in my lips as I began reading it. This is when my soul and all that was within me just found "the right tune" if you can understand my expression. This was my answer! This is an excerpt taken from her book:
I hope this encourages and helps you guys out. Writing it out and rehashing what I am learning and discovering helps me "meditate" on His Word and recall what God is speaking through His Word to me.He was satisfied not because he had escaped from the desert, but because of God's love and presence: "Your Lovingkindness is better than life" (verse 3). He knew that nothing in his physical situation could meet his deep needs--his "heart thirsts" and "soul-thirsts" as Hudson Taylor described them. --31 Days of Drawing Near to God by Ruth Meyers
My heart and my prayer tonight is that if anyone is struggling with depression or sadness or this aching empty feeling.....I pray that you find God, who fills all needs, there with you wherever you are at.
You make known to me the path of life;
in your presence is fullness of joy;
at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
I have to say that I totally understand, I mean... you are so cut off from everything when you are a stay at home mom, and a lot of the time, the only conversation you get ... is with a baby/child.... and when your life is revolving around a baby/child.... you lose yourself and only become "So-and-So's" Mom.... I've been a stay at home mom now since 2002... in 2006 when I divorced my ex, I found myself again, and I found new love but I realized how much I let being a mom dictate who I was. It's hard not to lose yourself, and not to let yourself drown.
ReplyDeleteMy best advice ... from a mom of 4 who' been up and down in it all ... Getting up and getting dressed in the morning is huge! Trust me, I would love to stay around in my PJ's all day, but I realize the days I get up and get dressed, those are the days that I feel better and get most done. ... Try to get outside, even if it's for a half an hour - or have your house open to the sun (or rain..lol) ... and windows own if it's warm enough. And most of all ... take at least a half hour for you! If it's be blogging or reading or taking a bubble bath.
Anyway ... thanks for stopping by and "loving" my blog :) I am a crazy picture person... constantly got my camera, and a book with me. LOL... I'm following you here now, and grabbed your button!! Looking forward to getting to know you more :)
Remember that we are not only moms and wives, but we are women, human beings with intricate needs and desires to connect with other human beings(adults). Don't feel so guilty about feeling this way, but it's time to get creative. Go out and meet other moms, make play dates, walk around the park, set up lunches with friends and families, meet other blogger moms...anything that will push you out of those pjs, out of the house, and into life...
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for your kind words! I am encouraged to hear from you guys. Rachel-I do need to be creative and get of my pjs! I have been making plans to do lunches and play dates for me and my daughter--thanks for the encouragement to do so!
ReplyDeleteMoon n Star mommy-YES! I need that half an hour! I have been finding myself just closing the window shades--gosh I feel like a depresso mom. But I think its going to be a sunny day today, and I got to let that sunshine in! I know that I get overwhelmed with all the boxes that I need to unpack in my house and I try to hide it from my neighbors (trying to hide all the mess as I feel that I'll be judged!) BUT you knwo what? Everyone's house is messy sometimes!!!! IT IS OK! :) Thanks so much you guys--YOu have no idea how much I am encouraged to hear from other moms out there that they struggle too!