S.O.S…. A Mom’s Cry for Help

I admit it. I am so ready for the school year to be over. I’m feeling frazzled. I’m so tired, if I were a toddler, I’d be crying.

by Grettel Loney

The warmer temperatures, the stunning flowers, everything coming back to life—isn’t spring just downright beautiful?

Oh, but with the lovely temperatures, the gorgeous sights, and the longer days comes one of the busiest times of the year for parents: end-of-school parties, driving our kids to practices, or rehearsals, or spring concerts, or ___ (fill in the blank); games, snack duty, tournaments, oh my! And who in the world thought soccer games at 8 a.m. with warmups starting at 7:30 a.m. on a Saturday was a good idea?

Those of you with kids graduating from anything get bonuses to add to your calendar— ceremonies, parties to plan, pictures to schedule, caps and gowns to order, invitations to order, said invitations to assemble and mail. Are those tiny little name cards absolutely necessary anyway?

The cost of all this can be overwhelming in and of itself—the pictures, the invitations, the food, the gifts for other graduates, dresses for formals, tuxes to rent, suits to buys, and the list goes on and on.

Unfortunately, we’re not the only ones running ragged. Our kids are working on final big projects, studying for finals, going through state testing, going to all these practices and rehearsals, and getting to bed later than usual—which often translates to them being cranky and emotional just like us.

On top of all this, we still have our own lives: our part time jobs, or full time jobs; that pile of laundry every few days. We have our volunteer positions, our committees, our churches, and if we have the energy for it, our own social events. Oh, and on top of all this, the kids want fed every. single. night.

Talking about this is enough to raise my heart rate and make it more difficult to breathe! Can I get a witness?

I admit it. I am so ready for the school year to be over. I’m feeling frazzled. I’m so tired, if I were a toddler, I’d be crying.

But I don’t want to just endure the next six weeks until school gets out, and I have a feeling you don’t either. I want to enjoy life along the way. Is that possible?

Yes, my soul, find rest in God;  my hope comes from him. Truly he is my rock and my salvation;  he is my fortress, I will not be shaken. My salvation and my honor depend on God;  he is my mighty rock, my refuge. Trust in him at all times, you people;  pour out your hearts to him,  for God is our refuge. (Psalm 62:5-8 NIV)

Lord, I’m so tired! I’m in a rut. I’m stretched so thin. Please, Oh God, I need You so badly right now…

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7 NIV)

Lord, thank You for blessing me and entrusting me with my children. Please forgive me for all the times I worry, all the times I don’t come to You with my cares. All the times I am seemingly ungrateful for the overabundance of blessings all around me!

Your Word says to cast all my cares on You because you care for me”. (1 Peter 5:7 NIV). Lord, consider me casting right now! Please empower me, Holy Spirit, to be the mom I need to be to my kids—to love them through their grumpy moments. You love me unconditionally. You are so merciful to me every day. I don’t deserve Your grace. Help me to love them and extend grace and mercy as You do me, but also to discipline them just as You discipline me for my own good (Hebrews 12:10).

The LORD gives strength to his people; the LORD blesses his people with peace. (Psalm 29:11)

I pray for strength, Lord. Give me wisdom, please, to take care of myself, and to have the discipline that I need to go with that. Thank you for the peace that only You can give!

I will listen to what God the LORD says; he promises peace to his people, his faithful servants— but let them not turn to folly. Surely his salvation is near those who fear him, that his glory may dwell in our land. Love and faithfulness meet together; righteousness and peace kiss each other. (Psalm 85:8-10 NIV)

Holy Spirit, please give me a hunger and thirst for righteousness. Please help me stay in right-standing with You, oh God; to spend time with You especially during my busiest days.

Great peace have those who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble. I wait for your salvation, LORD, and I follow your commands. I obey your statutes, for I love them greatly. I obey your precepts and your statutes, for all my ways are known to you. May my cry come before you, LORD; give me understanding according to your word. (Psalm 119:165-170)

Your Word is life to me! Please, oh God, place in my spirit a hunger for Your Word like never before! Help nothing be more important in my life than fellowship with You, the Almighty!

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30 NLT)

Friends, one day at a time, with God’s help every step of the way; we’ve got this. God loves you. And He sees you. He wants to make your burden light. All it takes is going to Him. Will you do it? Will you go to Him? Will you make your heart, soul, and mind a priority by kneeling at His feet and laying it all out before Him? He’ll be there. And He will refresh and renew you so that you can enjoy this most beautiful of seasons.

If you need practical suggestions to help you with your walk with God, please click here: Tips to Help You with Your Spiritual New Year’s Resolutions.

Grettel Loney is a wife, a mom, and a follower of Jesus Christ. She has two teenagers, a sweet dog, and a silly cat. Her greatest desire is to point others to the love and the power of the Almighty. You can get to know her better on Facebook at Grettel Loney.

Her other work for the918 includes My Journey: Mother’s Day Without Her, My Journey With Chronic Pain Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3, and Her Journey Through Grace to Gracie, among others.