a current description of God's work in and through the life of my husband and me while serving HIM wherever HE leads...
Monday, May 25, 2009
SO HUMAN
If any of you were every tempted to call me anything more than human, like a hero, or amazing; don't. I know some of you may want to call me an alien, but we can discuss that later. I am so human and this past week has reminded me of that in more ways than one. I am weary and worn out after my last stretch of shifts. Well, pure, extreme, total exhaustation might be a more accurate description of my current state of being. I had a few days off, which were a blessing, but I am back at it again. Today we had another VVF screening day. We had two new surgeons fly in last night and today we examined and took medical histories on 40 patients. Wow! We are starting another 6 weeks of VVF surgery. Therefore, I am back to balancing three roles again. Charge Nurse, VVF Co-Coordinator, and Ward Nurse. Please pray for my endurance, my roommates (I feel bad for them having to live with a frustrated, tired, stressed Laura), our patients, and my patience, strength, renewed passion, sweet restful sleep, and my relationships with crew. Pray that I may have patience with myself considering I get frustrated with my own human limitations. Oh, dear, just pray. I have so much more to say, stories to share, but what I really need is to sleep right now. I love all of you!
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8 comments:
Laura,
Aunt Joy here, via you mom! Your mom told us some of what is going on, and we (Aunt Marilyn and I ) continue to pray for you and your strength. I asked your mom to post for me, because right now, I cannot get to a computer.
I wanted to try to empathize with you getting to only take a 3 minute shower, so for a few days that is what I did; but, I felt like I was going around wearing my soap all day. Then your mom told me it isn't even a 3 minute shower you get to take, just a 2 minute one. Yikes, not even the shower can be a place you can go for some personal solitude. 2 minutes is just NOT long enough.
You hang on there Bunny Head! We love you.
Aunt Joy
Hi, I started praying for you a little harder yesterday. I know what it is to be frustrated with self but when you work and help others it does disappear. I totally wish I could do what you are doing. I am a frustrated missionary type. I really admire you for getting our of your comfort zone and doing what God bids you to do. What a good soldier you are for Christ! Can hardley wait til Joy and Marilyn get here. Don & I did some stuff for them. You Keep walking by faith and you will get the job done. Know I love you and pray for you. Grandma Jan
Hi Laura. I've been thinking about you lots and missing you and thinking Africa is freaking far away!!! Please come home to me! I am praying that you will have strength and endurance to get through each day. I am so proud of you and what you are doing. keep it up! we move into our house on saturday so if you are in the neighborhood, please stop by! :) Love you Laura!
Dear Laura,
I thought this P31 comment from today spoke directly to some of what you have been experiencing. Not that you are a 'new mom' : ) but you certainly have many crying, whining, messes on your plate!
May you be encouraged to just 'do the next thing.' I know that is how I am approaching today, as I have the dreaded simulation skills pass off, this afternoon-evening; and that is not my most favorite learning style, to say the least.
Love you
Mom
Do the Next Thing
27 May 2009
Marybeth Whalen
"Now this is what the Lord Almighty says: 'Give careful thought to your ways.'" Haggai 1:5 (NIV)
When I was a new mom, I often felt overwhelmed by my circumstances. The crying, the whining, the mess. I would look around at it all and just want to sit down and have a good cry. At some point during that time, I heard Elisabeth Elliot speak on the concept of "do the next thing." She talked about how, after her husband Jim died, she would have been overcome if not for this simple concept. When her emotions would start to run away with her, she would simply ask herself what the next thing she needed to do was. And then she would do it. And then she would do the next thing, and the next, and the next. And all those little "next things" made up her days.
I adopted this principle and began to whisper to myself, "Just do the next thing." Sometimes the next thing was to change a diaper, or start dinner, or return a phone call. Even now I move through my day doing the next thing. Sometimes my next thing is to homeschool my children. Sometimes it's to tidy the house. Sometimes it's to sit down and hammer out an article I have due. Whatever it is, I focus on that one task until it's done. And then I ask myself what's to be done next.
I always knew I learned this concept from a godly woman, but I never thought about this concept being from God. My reading in Oswald Chamber's timeless devotional, My Utmost For His Highest has helped me see that it is indeed a spiritual truth that God wants us to learn. Consider these two quotes:
"We look for visions from heaven, for earthquakes and thunders of God's power... and we never dream that all the time God is in the commonplace things and people around us. If we will do the duty that lies nearest, we shall see Him."
"When the Spirit of God comes, He does not give us visions, He tells us to do the most ordinary things conceivable... whenever God comes, the inspiration is to do the most natural, simple things—the things we would never have imagined God was in, and as we do them we find He is there."
Chambers referenced the scene in I Kings where Elijah is running from King Ahab. He is hungry and tired and very depressed. (Ever been there?) In that scene God sends an angel to him who says simply, "Arise and eat" (I Kings 19:5). What was Elijah's "next thing" he needed to do? Get up and eat something! Sometimes just moving forward in the most basic way is all God needs from us. With our obedience comes the solution we are seeking.
I hope this thought will help you or someone else who is feeling overwhelmed and even depressed. What "next thing" is God asking you to do? Get up, do whatever it is, and find Him there.
Dear Lord, help me to do the next thing when I feel overwhelmed. Help me to remember that You are right there waiting in that next thing. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Laura= Well I am back at the library finally...the city hall building in the glass atrium here is quiet today except for the two ladies in the PRAYER booth. I don't know these two only the other ladies and man who usually staff it...anyway, I ask them to pray for you as well as their church. When I said your name and Mercy Ships the lady said Oh I know her ...she is the one who types up all the prayer requests that come to them...she found you interesting. Well they prayed their shirts off ( not literally) for you. Wish I could bake you a pile of cookies right now or potatoe pancakes.
Hang in there and I found the "do the next thing" very helpful myself. Sooooo...do the next thing and in between sleep and eat and just stand in the shower without the water on for some alone time.!!!
Love You Aunt Joy
Laura= Well I am back at the library finally...the city hall building in the glass atrium here is quiet today except for the two ladies in the PRAYER booth. I don't know these two only the other ladies and man who usually staff it...anyway, I ask them to pray for you as well as their church. When I said your name and Mercy Ships the lady said Oh I know her ...she is the one who types up all the prayer requests that come to them...she found you interesting. Well they prayed their shirts off ( not literally) for you. Wish I could bake you a pile of cookies right now or potatoe pancakes.
Hang in there and I found the "do the next thing" very helpful myself. Sooooo...do the next thing and in between sleep and eat and just stand in the shower without the water on for some alone time.!!!
Love You Aunt Joy
Because your aunt is impatient I mashed on the computer bottons and entered this twice....go figure.
Joy
Bill and I will pray that you are able to get some good sleep. With your busy schedule, it sure sounds like you need it.
Had a great Memorial Day weekend with Aaron and Rachel. They came to see our newest addition to the family, Orion Theodore Breese. He came over to Grammy and Grampy's house for a visit today and my is he growing!!
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