One of the true beauties of motherhood is the amazing and vast distinctness of every relationship. Everyone has a mother, and everyone has a unique story. In this post, Tracy Graves Stevens reflects on a time of spiritual growth in her life as a daughter, mother and wife. Falling into the arms of God is inspiration that will comfort your heart. Even better, in her book What Just Happened? Living the Redeemed Life (When All Hell Breaks Loose) she pulls back the curtain on her experience when she faced drastic changes her life.
The author Tracy Graves Stevens, photo above the author pictured with her daughter and beloved late mother
This scenario is from a couple of years ago and it may sound familiar to you. For me, it is played out time and time again and occurs in the lives of women daily. It reminds me of the many hats we wear for our families. It is also an example of how we can be so outwardly focused that we sometimes neglect our own needs.
Another day begins, with just a few hours of sleep, I am running up the steps to check on my Mom, who lives with me, my husband and daughter. While preparing the day’s medications for my aging and ailing mother, I realize that I need to make an appointment for my daughter to get a physical for school. Also, don’t forget that Garry (my husband) told me to call the electrician for that annoying, blinking light in the kitchen. I guess I can fit that in while sending out resumes as I am in this new season of looking for employment. I should be grateful that I am home as Mom’s health is slowly fading but somehow thanksgiving is not the feeling settling into my spirit. As the phone rings again, from another marketing call, my little dog looks at me with those winsome eyes and I realize that she really needs to go to vet to be groomed. She is starting to look like a Sesame Street character, the one that lives in the trashcan. Ugh, I remember that I have to get these things done by 6:00 because I need to be at the church by 7:00 for a meeting.
Question, did you catch that I did not mention what I needed to do to take care of myself? When I think back on this time it felt like I really had no choice. These things plus more needed to get done. It is the continual game of balance that women deal with every day. It is sometimes hard to see the impact until you are forced to stop and be still. I eventually had to do this when my caregiving obligations for my mother shifted to full-time when she transitioned to hospice care.
It is during this season that I realized the importance of Psalm 121:1-2. I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. 2 My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth. This scripture became my mantra as I sought the Lord to give me strength to address all the to do’s I faced daily. This passage reminded me that God wanted me to fall into His mighty arms daily for whatever I needed. It is like that trust game where a person just falls back into the arms of their co-workers or team members. That is what God wants to be to us. God didn’t necessarily take my responsibilities away. Some were crucial and had to be done but somehow Falling Into God made me feel like I had support in the middle of my chaos. Many days God gave me the wisdom to say ‘no’ or ‘not right now. ’ Other days He directed my steps so I did what I needed to in the necessary order, and not wear myself out. When it was time to stop and rest I fell into God by praying and meditating on His Word, this allowed me to relax.. I also had to learn to trust my mother to God so I could get some sleep – after all, God is God 24 hours a day/7 days a week.
And I learned even more, as my mother transitioned to Glory, how to Fall Into His loving arms to hold me through my tears and grief. He is that same God – the one who parted the Red Sea, allows the Sun to rise and set daily, the one who provides air for our lungs and the one who knows your heart so personally that He anticipates what you need before you even open your mouth.
Fall into God’s loving arms today. Trust Him with your planner, calendar, worries, needs, issues and more importantly, your heart. His Word says that even when you are hard-pressed on all sides you will not be overcome (Isaiah 43:2). You are one of God’s wonderful works (Psalm 139:14). He is the Redeemer and you are the Redeemed. God will never let you down.
What Just Happened? Living the Redeemed Life (When All Hell Breaks Loose) www.tracygravesstevens.com