Fountain of Energy

My name is Jane, and I am a Monster-holic.

Actually, anything labeled “Energy” is on my grab list.  Due to financial (and health) constraints, I’m currently substituting instant coffee for Monster drinks.  Sometimes I’m tempted to eat those coffee granules straight for faster results.

Life is busy.  Overwhelming.  I could give you all MY reasons – we could compare the effort of raising one kiddo versus multiples, farming, working from home, caring for parents, leading in church, etc. – but I suspect a whole lot of us wish we had more hours in a day.  And some of us are clawing with our fingernails for the energy just to get up in the morning, feed another mouth, dictate another bath, breath another breathe.

There are a lot of resources to help figure things out.  Time management, simplification, prioritization, learning to say no.  (I love FlyLady and my purple feather duster.  I give her credit for some of the little sanity I’ve got.  But there are times when I DON’T have 15 uninterrupted minutes.  No excuses.)

There are ways to live healthier for more natural energy.  Exercise.  Made-from-scratch sit-down meals.  Adequate sleep.  Sabbaticals.  I try them all – though I can’t seem to fit them in my schedule at the same time.

I shut off my computer.  Emails mount up, disappearing into a black hole.  I miss the online inspiration, the personal interactions that take place more and more frequently online.  I turn the computer back on, using my time management techniques, following rigid time limits.

No matter how I slice and dice things, there is not enough time, enough energy, enough ME to go around.

Then Paul speaks to me in his not-so-subtle way:

“I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.” Philippians 4: 11-13 NIV

Hmm…  I always thought that the “content” aspect of this verse had to do with material needs.  We count our blessings with what we have and don’t overly stress over what we don’t have.  I get that.

But he follows it up with:  “I can do everything…”  Yeah, sure, Paul.  That is exactly what I am looking for.  Somehow, I’ve gotta do everything on my schedule today.  And it seems pretty nigh impossible.

But it’s possible through Him, on His schedule.  That’s where my energy comes from.  Everything that needs to be done will be done.  And I will be content.

When I am waiting at a traffic light that is making me late to a doctor’s appointment, I will be content.

When my husband wants to chat at the moment I’ve got a hard writing deadline looming over my head, I will be content.

When my daughter is dilly-dallying her way through math and I want to move on to an exciting solar system lesson, I will be content.

When it’s 7 p.m. and I’m just starting to think about supper, I will be content.

When the yard is muddy and I see shoes and floors that need endless cleaning, I will be content.

When the choices are hard and I don’t know what to do, I will be content. 

Through His strength.

Jane keeps all caffeine away from her 4yo daughter, who has enough energy to go past the moon and back.  Their adventures are chronicled at Mozi Esmé.