Tag Archives: mental health

Labor Less!

“Come to Me all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and My burden light.” Matthew 11:28-30 NKJV

In my struggle to relinquish my control freak tendencies, I rely on this scripture time and time again. I learned that I don’t have to conquer my corner of the world in my power.

There was a time in my life where I was working very hard to give my children all my attention. I worked long hours. Then on my days off would I try to cram days of lessons in with Lan, never wanting him to fall behind his peers.

These efforts only brought forth fatigue on my part and frustration on his. When I was at a point when I could no longer do this, a funny thing happened. Lan’s grades improved.

I had no choice but to trust God. I didn’t have the time to prep Lan for those standardized tests. All those practice books went unused. I was at the mercy of his teachers to give him everything he would need.

I was tired. My job was wearing me out. I was trying to balance the needs of two kids who are polar opposites. I was attempting to be a real life
“wonder woman” meeting unrealistic expectations I had imposed on myself.

Finally at this point of burn out, I stopped struggling so much and gave it a rest. I prayed more and worked less.  I found the more I trusted God, the more He did for me.

When I finally stopped running myself ragged and was still, I could hear Him.

I found comfort in the fact that I really don’t have to know it all.

When I don’t have an answer, I now trust God first. Whatever I need will find me.

It wasn’t the quickest transformation, but I don’t want to revert back to where I was.

Casting my cares has been liberating. I am sometimes amused, wondering just how God is going to work certain things out.

So, If you are tired, burned out, or at a loss, don’t wait years like I did.  You will accomplish more when you trust God and choose to labor less!

Versatile?

I’ve written here about my own failings as a parent, hopes for my children, my experiences with autism and even stray cats. Sometimes I never know what is going to come out when I hit “new post.” Yet more than that, this blog is about how God has carried me, revealed things to me and even dealt with me on my “autism journey.”

A very lovely lady in the UK nominated me for The Versatile Blogger Award.  Sherri Matthews blogs over at A View from My Summer House. Her blog is both beautiful and inspiring. We have since discovered that we share many commonalities including a love for nature, photography, sons with musical interests, children diagnosed with Asperger’s and wouldn’t you know it, black cats!

Sherri inspires me with her story and how open she is about what God has done in her life.

Per my award, I’m obligated to share seven things about myself.

If given a choice between nuts or no nuts I always choose nuts.

I am a sucker for any stray cat, dog or person.

I love quiet time, however living in a house with three men it is indeed a rarity

My favorite color is green

My favorite beverage is sweet tea (southern style, real sugar!)

My favorite Christmas special is Charlie Brown’s Christmas. (How The Grinch Stole Christmas is a very close second)

I feel very fortunate to be sharing this blog with you!

Taking my cue from Sherri, I’m nominating blogs that deal with a subject close to my heart, autism or other mental disorders. The ones I’ve nominated here are informative, insightful and often inspiring. I encourage you to check them out!

Raising 5 Kids with Disabilities and Remaining Sane Blog   (always makes me smile!)

Youth of a Nation: Bent not Broke  (EXCELLENT support for a vast array of disorders)

Weathering the Storm: Overcoming Bipolar Disorder  (lovely blog by a lovely lady)

Coloring Outside the Lines (one family’s journey with ASD)

Adventures in LSD (another family’s personal story about life on the spectrum)

Aspie Story (one man’s story)

AnnKilter (an inspiring and informative viewpoint from years of experience)

I will try my very best to live up to this award.  If God has given me only one thing through this autism experience it is the ability to bend, stretch, and go with the flow…

Well how ‘bout that. Maybe I am versatile after all.