Slowing Down

In this day and age slowing down seems to be hard for just about everyone.

Day planners and smart phones help us to cram "stuff" on our to do list. So much stuff that we usually have to move some of it to the next day making that list even longer. It is as if we never truly get the "to-do" list done.

Sometimes, for one reason or another, the Lord forces us to slow things down. That has been the case with me this week.

On Monday I had dental surgery. Having only been to the dentist a handful of times in 43 years my teeth were in really bad shape. I had broken teeth and teeth with cavities and teeth that just plain hurt for no apparent reason. I finally swallowed my fear and had dental surgery on Monday. 3 extractions, 13 feelings, and a partial plate later my top is finally fixed. At the beginning of next year, when the insurance re-ups I will have the bottom worked on. I haven't been able to actually chew food in several years. I chewed at it for the most part and really caused myself some stomach problems. I was in the dental chair for 5 hours. The dentist said he never had anyone have that much done in one day..especially someone who was scared to death of the dentist. 

Yesterday, which was Tuesday, I had a hernia surgery. I left the hospital a few short hours after the surgery, came home, went to town to get groceries with Morgan, and got up and moved stuff around. This morning I woke up, went and got some more groceries that I had forgotten yesterday, drove myself around, went to my resale shop, went back and got some more groceries that I had forgotten on the trip this morning, got home, went and picked up some chickens at a friends house, and now I can barely move. 

Guess what! I am so sore I can't hardly stand it. My mouth hurts. My stomach hurts, My side hurts, If I didn't know better I would say that my hair hurts. I over did it. The hernia surgery was my fourth such surgery because I always over do it after surgery...and today was no different.

This evening the Lord allowed the pain to force me to stop. I had been praying for no pain. I had none and so I thought I could just go about my business. He answered my prayer. He then had to remove the answer so that I would be forced to stop and do as I was told so that I can recover. 

I don't like slowing down. I don't like being still. I don't like just setting. I don't like to watch television. I don't like to be "stuck" in one spot with no chance to get up and around. What I need to do is all of the things I don't like to do. This situation is driving me absolutely batty. I feel like I am losing "time". Like I am not being constructive and getting things done. 

Tonight I am reminded of Psalm 46:10.

Be Still and Know That I Am God

I gave up the perfect chance to do just that today.Luckily, I serve a forgiving and amazing God that is going to give me another chance tomorrow to rest, recuperate, and be still and spend some much needed time with Him.

I have the perfect chance, since having quit one of my jobs and now having these surgeries, to get closer to the Lord, to spend some much needed time with Him, and to rejuvenate my mind, body, spirit, and soul.

Why does finding time with the Lord seem like it always ends up on the back burner even when I am trying so hard for it not to?