“It’s only been two hours!”
I have the joy and blessing of keeping my grandchildren several days each week. With that joy, comes weariness and challenges–two little ones can drain my energy. One day last week during my afternoon Grandma assignment, my daughter called to check in. My greeting was, “It’s only been two hours! But they’ve worn me out, when do you get off work today?”
The children’s other grandmother and I share weekly child care duty. Some days are full days for us. Other days we split the responsibility and have shorter hours. Last Monday was my short day, but after building tents from chairs and pillows, playing throw and catch, and racing up and down the hallway with two VERY exuberant children, this grandmother was exhausted.
God has gifted us with this amazing human body that allows us to move, work, play, sing, love our families, learn new things, and do all the daily activities we face. But we aren’t given an unlimited supply of energy. What do we do when exhaustion comes? What’s the remedy for when our energy is depleted?
Seek our Lord’s help and example
Last week my blog message focused on the weariness college students may face due to overwhelming challenges they encounter. But exhaustion doesn’t just occur when we face new, and tough challenges. No matter our age, we can experience periods when our energy seems to drain away like dirty water from our washing machine as it completes its wash cycle.
But Jesus . . .
“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 in light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)
Our Lord cares about the load we carry. He’s there to help us on the journey.
Seek rest as our Lord did
What did Jesus do when He was tired? He rested.
During His ministry, Jesus made numerous journeys. One of these was a trip from Judea back to Galilee. It was on this journey that Jesus met the Samaritan woman at the well. Scripture tells us Jesus was exhausted.
So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon. (John 4:4-6)
Jesus rested when He needed to, but He was still ready to minister to the Samaritan woman when she came to the well for water.
Even in our weariness, Jesus shows us we can help others and share the love of Christ with then.
Ask for help if our load is heavy
Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken. (Psalm 55:8)
Our God is dependable and trustworthy, He doesn’t leave us to bear the burdens alone. Our loving Father is only a prayer away.
Don’t try to do it all. Ask for help when needed.
Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. (Galatians 6:2)
We are called to carry the burdens of others. We should also be willing to let others help us with our load. This may be the hardest step, but others cannot help us unless we allow them to.
It’s only been two hours!
I wasn’t just tired from two hours of vigorous fun and games. We were in the midst of a wonderful book launch of Stay the Course (a devotional for beginning college students). Radio and TV interviews to prepare for. Work to do on another book project. Extra events happening at church I needed to assist with. And a wedding to prepare for . . .
But I’ve asked for help to carry some of the load. How about you–do you need to share responsibilities and ask for help to lighten your burden?
Have you gotten that special grad a gift yet? Stay the Course: A Handbook to Survive and Thrive in Your First Year of College (and Beyond) can help relieve the burden a beginning student carries. Practical advice, motivation, and a gentle dose of tough love can ease the challenging journey of college.
Here’s a link if you’d like to check out the book or purchase. https://mybook.to/QQq3h
I hope you’ll join me in prayer for our graduates.
Great post, Katherine. Grandkids are fun, but yeah, they can be exhausting! Congratulations on the recent release of Stay the Course (and on all the great reviews it’s getting)!
I’m so grateful for your encouragement, Priscilla. I pray Stay the Course can be a helpful resource for our new graduates. Wishing you a sunny day (it’s dark and dreary here, but His light is with us all the time). Blessings!
I can understand your exhaustion with the grandchildren, Katherine. I enjoy my granddaughter but my older body can’t always keep up. We can do the same thing in our souls. We need the refreshment of Jesus’s living water to energize our spiritual lives. Blessings, my friend!
Thank you for sharing, Barbara. The gift of living water and life is a wonderful reminder of the great love our Lord has for us. Wishing you joy and blessings!
This slow learner needs to repeat daily, “Don’t try to do it all.”
Oh, yes, Diana, and in this case, I admit to being a slow learner. Thank you for your sending timely advice and a smile. Wishing you peace and joy!
Those grands can quickly deplete our energy, but they keep us young! I’m discovering the need to rest becomes necessary with age. Thanks for encouraging us to rest.
Yes, Lisa, those grands keep us young and bring such happiness and joy. I pray you can find rest. You’re sharing the gift of love with your family by giving so much of yourself to others. Peace and blessings.
I identify with fatigue of caring for grands but also overflowing joy! Your scriptures are perfect for our tiredness in different ways -mentally, physically, and emotionally-that happens in many situations.
I agree, Marilyn–grandchildren bring exhaustion and joy, And oh so much love! I’m thankful for these gifts from God and the energy He supplies for us to care for them. Hoping your day is blessed, my friend.
Katherine, I don’t remember my grandmother ever doing all the activities you’re describing. It sounds like a fun time at your house. I’m amazed at all you do. Thanks for these great verses to remind us of our place of rest.
My first career as a physical education teacher comes in handy when playing with my grandchildren. I’m so blessed and thankful to be able to run, crawl, and play with them. But I’m thankful for rest, too. Wishing you continued blessings, Annie.
I can relate having three small grandchildren myself. It doesn’t take long before I’m questioning how I ever managed my children at that age! My son always tell me I try to do too much when they are with me. Maybe he’s right, I certainly don’t remember any of my grandparents entertaining me when I visited them. When they leave, I’m ready for rest!
Mine wear me out, too, Terri, but like you, I enjoy my time with them. When I think back and remember the busy schedule I had with work, school, and my children’s activities, I’m glad I’m able to help my daughter with childcare. It’s a blessing for me as well as them. But when I leave their house or they leave mine, I’m ready for rest, too!
I’m so thankful that God helps carry our load when we ask Him to, no matter how large or small it might be. Thanks for the reminder and keep enjoying those precious little ones!
Yes, I agree, Leigh, we are so blessed that He is with us to help us carry the load, whatever it may be in service to Him or others. Thanks for your good wishes. I feel like time is rushing by so fast–I try to enjoy every moment I have with them. Blessings!
I see by the comments I’m not the only one who can relate. Thanks for bringing us to the verses. Psalm 55:8 especially encouraged me today. (Grandson just left!!)
I always enjoy reading about your adventures with your grandchildren. They bring such joy when they’re with us, but the rest we receive when they’re gone is welcome, too. Thank you for sharing.
I’m another Nana who loves playing with her grandchildren–tag, “sword fights” (with halved pool noodles!), treasure hunts, Hide-the-Buddies (stuffed animals), etc. I too am thankful I can still do these things, just not eight hours straight! Their energy knows no bounds; mine does! 😁 / Congratulations on a successful book launch, Katherine, amidst all the other plates you’re spinning. I’d say you’re proof of the promise in Isaiah 40:29– “He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak!”
Wow, Nancy! I’d love to come to your house and play. It sounds like such fun! Thank you for your encouragement, and yes, I couldn’t make it without God’s gift of strength and energy. May God bless you, my friend, and grant you peace.
Thank you for the reminder to rest, Katherine! I sure hope you are getting a little more rest now that your book launch is almost done. I plan to put a short review of Stay the Course in my newsletter this month.
I’m trying to recover, Kathy. Thank you for being part of our great launch team. It’s awesome that you’re going to put a review in your newsletter. Thanks so much!
Peace and blessings.
I can relate. I love my grandkids but boy they can wear me out. Great message and I appreciate you sharing your thoughts, Katherine . I will be praying for you, the new book and especially for our graduates.
Thank you, Yvonne. I pray Stay the Course will be of benefit to our beginning college students. It’s a tough world out there. Thank you for praying for them.
I think we all have days when there’s too much day packed into them, my friend. Knowing where to turn and where we can draw our strength from makes all the difference. Great post, as always ma’am. So far, ten copies and counting as “Stay the Course” has become my “Go To Gift” for high school graduates heading off to college. When are you writing one for those who leave high school and enter the trades?