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"Give me this day, my daily bread..."

Boy, has it been a rather stressful couple of weeks! I've been feeling the past couple of days like running away from home...just for a chance to be alone and not be needed for a bit. Not that I would, but I kind of want to. I'm sitting here pondering why I'm responding this way, and I think I've already come up with the answer. What is it? I know I have been neglecting my quiet time with God. I've been trying to have my "quiet" time with God amidst the oh-so-crazy moments of my daily life. Rather than taking special time for God, I've been trying to squeeze Him into my already filled-up time. No wonder I'm sitting here feeling a bit empty and on-edge.

I guess this post could be a quick one, since I've already found the cause for my stress. But, really, the "causes" were more like these things: my Mom's hip replacement surgery, then the things that followed her surgery like: visiting her at the hospital and seeing her SO not her usual self, regularly checking in on both her and my Dad while she was in the hospital, the time spent picking out her rehab spot/getting her moved there/and then her checking herself out 3 hours after she arrived because the conditions at the Laurels were HORRENDOUS (and not an appropriate place for a rehab patient). Then since she's been home (8 days ago), there have been other things to check in about, as well as taking her and my Dad to the hospital one night last week for an ultrasound on her leg (to check for a blood clot...which there was none, praise the Lord). So that's just one aspect of my stress. Then there's been the usual stressors: homeschooling, housework, softball/baseball schedules, Hannah's dance recital, tight finances, etc. Never mind that I've been having a mini pity-party for myself for having to miss out on the night away that Dave and I were going to have over Memorial weekend (which never happened, of course). Oh, and add in the stress of family (certain un-named ones in particular), and my nerves are about frayed.

So, yes, these have all added to my stress level lately. But, the fact is, if I hadn't been neglecting my quiet time with God...He would have equipped me to better handle all of this.

The praises and blessings of the last couple weeks are many though too. Mom's surgery was a success, overall her recovery has gone splendidly, June is here and our school schedule is winding down (although we aren't taking the whole summer off...but we are scaling back for sure), and Dave did take me on a date the weekend before Mom's surgery. He even picked out a romantic comedy for us to watch!

I can choose to focus on all the things that haven't gone the way I'd hoped, and I can choose to be frustrated with certain issues I have to deal with that get really old, OR...I can choose to lay it all at the foot of the cross and ask God for the daily wisdom and strength to get through the day. And not just "get through" it. Conquer it. Live it with passion and purpose. All it takes is getting my daily bread from God. Every day, busy or not. Duh.

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