Weary at Heart by Manndi Wilkins
My sweet son, Liam, had two out-of-town basketball games last night and came home (late) to a night of homework before his tired little body could hit the pillow. I stayed up to see how his games went as I had to take his younger brother to Martial Arts and was unable to be in two places at once. He barely had time to give me the recap of the games, as he was tired and wanted to finish his homework, shower, and hit the hay.
I went to bed and was just drifting off to dreamland myself when I heard the faint cries of frustration coming from the kitchen, where he was working on his computer and finishing up homework. I jumped out of bed and practically ran to his side. "What's a matter, buddy?", even though I already knew the answer.
He was overwhelmed and exhausted. A lethal combination. Especially for one that faces anxiety the way this one does (he gets it from his mother bear). One many of us know all too well, especially after the past two years of pandemic life, political unrest, and a plethora of more personal issues many have faced. I could not really help with his homework as he is already far more advanced than I was at his age (or am at my age). I just put my arms around him, told him I loved him and that it would all look different in the morning. I then left him to do what he needed to do so he could get some sleep.
He was in much better spirits this morning, which made my heart sing with gratefulness. It also made my mind wander to my own childhood and how many late nights I came home from a cross-country or track meet, high as a kite, in admiration of my performance or my team's First Place victory. All was well on the bus ride (or more likely my parents’ car) home. But once I stepped into the house and realized I had forgotten an assignment due the next day, a project I had yet to start, or several voice messages I needed to return, I collapsed on my bed with frustration, defeatedly wondering, 'How on earth will I get all of this done, when all I really want to do is go to sleep?'.
Ahhhhh! Such is the life of a pre-teen, teenager, and young adult. Those seemingly insignificant things certainly do not seem so insignificant at the time. Children do not have the perspective adults have. And even the most seasoned, organized, healthy, and functioning adults do not have the perspective that God has.
I still experience those overwhelmed and under-productive seasons of life. Where I am happy one moment and curled up in the fetal position the next, wondering how on earth I will ever get everything done, when all I want to do is take a hot shower, curl up in my nice, warm, comfy adult-sized bed, pull the covers up, and sleep the stress away.
It is in those moments that I wish I automatically had the perspective that the things on earth are so insignificant compared to the glory which will soon be revealed in heaven. There is so much suffering and struggle going on in the world as we know it.
As Christians, we can take heart in countless verses that address this. One of my favorites is John 16:33:
"I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
Another favorite is found in Matthew 11:28:
"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."
And finally, perhaps my favorite verse (on this topic) is found in Isaiah 66:13:
"As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you: and you shall be comforted in Jerusalem."
I know the daily comforting of my sons is a very sad and sorry effort in comparison to the Lord's comforting for His beloved children. At the same time, I truly believe God infuses his love into the hearts of all mothers, especially where their children are concerned. There was (and still is) no one that can comfort me like my own mother when I am dealing with life's more difficult moments.
While I may not always know what to say to my own sons, a simple hug, a reassurance that things will look better after some much-needed rest, and a shot of 'Just do what you can and let the rest go...' is often all I know to give. Thank Heavens that my Heavenly Father, who happens to be my children's Heavenly Father as well, is not only capable but ready and waiting, to step in where us earthly parents meet the wall of resistance and inadequacy.
And then, there is always my go-to line by Scarlett O'Hara in the epic mini-series, Gone with the Wind: "Tomorrow is another day.". Until it's not. But then, it won't matter anyway, we will be in our heavenly home with our heavenly Father, and all of the earthy trauma, trouble, sins, and suffering will be cascaded away, like rolling water off a duck's back.
Until that fateful day, one foot in front of the other, as slow and steady as you must, until the momentum builds so that you can quicken the pace and break out into a jog, followed by a run, followed by a victorious rush through the winner's tape at the end of life's marathon of learning, growing, loving, and vastly moving experiences.