If the holidays feel overwhelming this year…

A while back, my son was grumbling about taking out the trash, and said to me, “Mom, I wish we had a servant.”

In jest, I replied, “We do, it’s you. Don’t forget to replace the bag when you’re done!”

And we both laughed.

But as soon as he walked away, my thought was really, “Actually, I’m the servant here, spending all my days doing stuff for everybody else. You’ve got it made, kid.”

And that’s an honest confession of where my attitude has been lately. 😬

Am I proud of this? No. But I’m sharing it anyways, to tell you that even though we talk a lot about ways we can use planning and strategizing to combat overwhelm, there are times when you are just plain overwhelmed, no matter how much you plan.

Sometimes there’s truly more on your plate than you have time for.

Sometimes there are things you can’t say “no” to.

Sometimes your responsibilities outweigh your energy.

Sometimes you have to just do it anyway.

When I reach this point of bitter exhaustion where I suddenly find myself jealous of my son as he takes out the trash (🤦🏼‍♀️),I can now recognize it as a sign that I’ve pushed myself too hard, and something needs to change. It’s the change piece that I’m still working on.

I’m still working on asking for help, from both my family and my team. 

I’m still working on learning how to determine what’s the most important, and what can wait. 

I’m still working on prioritizing rest when productivity runs in my blood. 

Every time this happens, I learn a little more, and make a few more changes.

I have been thinking on this all week long, a little frustrated with myself that I’d let my exhaustion get to this point, and a little amused that the Lord is still faithful to show me that I cannot do this life on my own – my need for Him is GREAT. 

I just wonder if a lot of us feel like we’re drowning – especially in this holiday season – and spend a little too much time inside our own heads beating ourselves up over it.

One thing the Lord has brought to mind over and over again this week is that true rest is found in Him. Not in planning a little more, not even in getting everything out of my head and onto paper (though I will be honest – that does help a lot), but in Him alone. In His Word, and in prayer as I lay before Him all the things on my mind. Work deadlines and family concerns and health struggles and big decisions and small decisions – He’s there to carry all of them. 

At no point has He asked us to walk through life alone – He promises His presence, His rest, and His good plan the whole way through.

Sometimes, I just forget. And that’s when the overwhelm isn’t too far behind.

I needed the reminder this week, and I just wanted to share it with you, in case you needed it too. You’re not alone. Rest is available to you. And you’ve got a Savior who loves you and walks with you, ready to carry all the things that are weighing you down.

P.S. If you ALSO want to get all-the-holiday-things out of your head and onto paper, I’d love to gift you our FREE Holiday Planning Checklists! They really are helpful – though not a replacement for slowing down and spending some time in the Word! 😉 You can get them right here for exactly zero dollars: ​FREE Holiday Planning Checklists >>​