This week has been way overwhelming for me.  Like, WAY.  Like, over the top kind of WAY.  I legitimately left work yesterday with my heart racing and had to say some major prayers in the two minute ride from my office to daycare to get the kiddos.

Thankfully the Lord heard my prayer and did some major work in all of us so that we could have a calm night last night.

As I got in the bed, before 9 p.m., mind you, I pulled out my Bible.  Where do I turn when the world is just too much?  When the weight of “all that I have to do” is enough to make my heart race? When the days are hard and the work is overwhelming.  When the kids are screaming banshees on the 15 minute ride home.

I read God’s word.

Matthew 11:29-30: “Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

My burdens at times seem incredibly heavy.  And the yoke around my neck, insanely tight.

He calls me to loosen my yoke and to lay down my burdens…surrendering all to Him.

 

So as I crawled into the bed, totally exhausted, I pulled out my Bible and opened to Proverbs.  I just needed to be in His word after the incredibly hectic day I had…but I recognized that I also need some help with parenting.

A few weeks ago our Pastor talked about the difficulty of parenting.  And yes, we’ve had some really difficult nights over the last few months {I think R is over the whole nap-taking thing…}, which has kept us on our knees, and almost brought me to tears a few times.  But when our Pastor talked about parenting…he referenced the Proverbs as a great tool for parents.

Side-bar: Last night R was actually very good for me.  I think partly because his daddy {who was working late} called and told him he needed to be “a good gentleman for momma”.  So that was his mission.

So last night I actually had 2 Bibles…maybe my brain would absorb it faster…

 

Appropriately enough, and to prove Dr. Estep’s point, chapter 1, verse 1 of Proverbs says, “The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel: for gaining wisdom and instruction; for understanding words of insight.”

Yep.  That’s why I’m here…in Proverbs.  To gain wisdom and instruction and to understand insight…from God.

I mean, if there ever was a manual for parenting, for being smarter, for being wiser – hello? It’s right here…it even says so.

I could camp out in chapter 1, verse 7: The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.

I seek knowledge…wisdom…grace…and…love.  All things that are of the Lord.

I may be in Proverbs for a while…

 

 

Totally unrelated, but I’ve wanted to share this best thing R has said to us today/lately: Singing Row, row, row your boat…he says, “…merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily, like it’s butter dreams.”  His personal take on the lyrics of “life is but a dream.”

Good night dear friends.  Find rest for your souls in Jesus.