Our Glory Hour

Chris called from church to check on me today. It's week 2 or 3 or 89 of school holidays. He knew I'd be feeding extra teens, wrestling Wyatt's burgeoning will, and dancing a regulation dance with Benjamin. I responded to Chris' sweet call with a shaky, "I'm not doing anything well. Benjamin needs more than I have, and nobody's getting anything."

If I'm very honest, I'm overwhelmed. Spread thin. Frazzled on a cellular level by the feeling of doing so much but not doing any of it well. That seems to be the axis the world is spinning on. It's pop culture.

But listen here... I'm doing everything in my ever-lovin power to NOT follow the trend of being overwhelmed and busy, to not wear exhaustion like a badge of honor. I'm letting things go, changing rhythms, and caring for myself in uncool ways like sleeping, limiting screen time, and managing nutrition and exercise. But this world keeps spinning, even while things are broken and hard.

But do you know Who holds this whole world in His hands?

Twenty minutes after my phone call, we stopped next to the ocean. We breathed, looked and listened. And there He was... the world-holder, ocean-maker, sun-setter, breath-giver.

Peace released like a river through my soul. I saw the same peace in Benjamin as he danced by crashing waves and Wyatt as he wiggled his toes in the soft, green grass.

We had a glorious hour together before things went upside down again. But I think it might be just as glorious to remember we need Him every single hour, maybe more often. There's a day coming when Benjamin won't struggle and neither will I. There won't be suffering, tears, weariness or overwhelm for any of us. And that will be a glorious day.

Until then, He releases glory-bites through sounds, smells, sunsets, frisbees, phone calls, and soft green grass. Each sensation is a promise of what's to come. We had a great glory hour this evening, and I'm holding it close and hoping you have one too!