You are not alone

I've been thinking about Noah lately.

Sometimes as Christians, we can feel isolated and lonely. There are tines when you may feel that you are the only one trying to do right. I remember times as a teenager when I felt our family was just so different from everyone else. Not only were there eight of us, which most people think is crazy, but we were Christians also. There were a lot of times that we were members of very small churches, and it was easy to feel alone.

Now that I am an adult, it's easier to fight that lonely feeling, but sometimes, it still pops up. A few days ago, I was thinking about Noah and his family. They literally WERE the only ones trying to live right and follow God! They spent years building an ark, while all their neighbors ridiculed them. They didn't have friends to visit with, or a church family to pray for them. I'm sure that was difficult, to say the least! I just marvel at their faithfulness. The Bible goes not tell us if Noah or an of his family ever doubted or questioned what they were doing, but I can't help thinking that they did. They were human, after all, just like us! The important thing to remember, is that, even if they did have doubts, they never gave up on God. Maybe they had to pray every day and ask God to remove the doubt and fear, but they got up every day and kept working.  That is an encouragement to me, to keep going for God everyday!

When the Proverbs 31 woman might as well be Wonder Woman

All my life, I've been taught that the woman described in Proverbs 31 is the ultimate standard for a wife and mother. She has been studied and preached about probably millions of times. Chances are, if you go to any church on Mother's Day, you will hear about her. And rightfully so. She is an amazing example of womanhood.

So, what do you do when this example seems impossible to live up to? I think a lot of women might feel this way from time to time, but I am specifically referring to someone in my situation: someone dealing with a chronic illness. I'm not complaining or whining, or even trying to make excuses,  just sharing my personal experiences. Some days, I can't even get out of bed. Other days, I get up and sit in a chair, but that's all I can handle. Then there are some good days, when I can do a little bit of housework. It's hard to see my house looking far less than perfect. When we were first married, I kept a clean house, made a home-cooked meal every night, and had extra time for craft projects.

I'm learning to accept my limitations. I'm trying to learn to adjust to a lack of energy, and feeling of fatigue. I'm trying to realize there are days that I just need to rest, even though I have so much to do. It's not easy sometimes - I am a perfectionist, and some days, I feel literal pain to see how I am not keeping up with  things the way I would like.

I'm trying not to be a discouragement here! I know at times I feel it's hopeless, but I won't give up trying to live  up to her example. After all, as Christian's, our goal is to be Christ-like. I KNOW none of us can achieve that, but that does not mean we should not try! As long as I have any strength at all, I will keep giving my best to my family, and praying for the additional strength that I need.