Wow, life rarely fails to be overwhelming in some sense...overwhelmingly busy or stressed or tired or wonderful!  Like most humans, I tend to concentrate on the current circumstances to determine my defined "overwhelming" status.

Today is overwhelming from the standpoint of home life.  I am so stressed - I would love to cry myself silly while eating a bag of Hershey Kisses.  I know most of us wear many hats.  My hats encompass daughter, friend, employee, co-worker, insurance underwriter, sister, aunt, surrogate mom for parts of my sister, surrogate mom for my niece when my sister can't be the mom and caregiver for both of them including 2 dogs, a cat and a rabbit.  In the midst of these hats it is my desire to take care of everyone.  I want everyone to be happy with life, happy with each other, happy with me.  If I sense this isn't happening - I try to peacemake.  Ask me how successful that is....

My most stressful hats are wrapped together in being sister/mom/caregiver.  I have been in these roles, full-time, for 4 1/2 years now.  I have an empathy for caregivers that I've never had before. Bless you if you are a caregiver.  I wish I had a 3 step program, (heck I would be happy to give you a 20 step program - if it worked), to help us learn to relax...do what we can do and leave the rest to God.

Oops - may be that is the secret...it is a 1 step program - leave the rest to God.  I do what I can do, then try to do more, be more, give more, worry about what I did, wonder what I should have done different or will do different next time or.... Except for when sleeping - I'm rarely still.  If my body is still - my mind and heart are going 100 miles an hour.

Rest, be still, be quiet, let His peace flow over and through your Spirit.

Exodus 14:14
The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.”

Psalm 37:7
Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him
Psalm 46:10
He says, “Be still, and know that I am God

Exodus 33:14
The LORD replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”
Psalm 91:1
Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
Matthew 11:28
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.