a good cry...

A good cry...every woman needs one now and then, right?!  My cry one morning last week wasn't at all a lovely cry, though...in fact, there was nothing good about it.  Nothing at all...it happened as a result of a completely unbalanced teeter-totter of a schedule and life as of late.

"Unbalanced" meaning too much out and not enough back in...and a constant running without time to pause and rest...seems like I come around to this point, at least one similar to it every now and then...  And as an unfortunate result, the pressure cooker here at 1711 Cherokee Lane just exploded...and the contents that had been "carefully" tucked in and set aside for later all came out.  My dear, very patient husband...I thank my God for him.

Venting, otherwise known as a pity-party, was fully experienced and forever regretted...and although I've heard that venting is a good thing, I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that nothing good comes from it...especially, when I add that natural "emotional" bent of my feminine nature.  My ever so generous husband... 

This morning, I felt like life and "a role" were just really, really hard...I don't have the luxury of spilling all that's on my mind or my frustrations with so and so about something or the other.  In fact, if I say or do something that isn't right, everyone in the county will know about it!  (At least all of the facebook friends of the begrudging person will know...)  If I would do __________________ (fill in the blank), the things God has called me to would be severely affected.  I have to consider the costs and consequences of anything and everything I say or do.  And although I would really never choose to do whatever I might fill in that blank with, that morning, I found a twinge of yearning to live the life of emotional vomiting on anyone I encounter...just a twinge, though...because after I've pondered the result, I know that God would not be well represented by my "venting"...

Venting...what is that anyway?  Sharing all that is in my heart with a good, dear friend who will understand and help me to see the best way to go and how to deal with the situation or person with grace.  Well, that definition doesn't sound bad at all!  That's actually what we're meant to do as friends.

"Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ."  --Galatians 6:2

Sharing with my friends is good...we need to be able to pray together about our concerns.  The thing I got caught in, though, and usually what happens when I "vent" is addressed in these verses...

"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouth, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen....Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.  Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you."  --Ephesians 4:29, 31-32

When I choose to "vent," I'm usually sharing with GREAT emotion about a situation or a person that is causing me or those I love pain.  Usually, my "venting" does not bring me freedom or in the long-run feel better, nor does it bring encouragement to anyone listening. 

God has given me some really incredible promises, though.  He doesn't want me to stay in that pit I've chosen to live in and tell others about.  Instead, He wants to bring me rest.  Check out these amazing verses...

"Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, Who daily bears our burdens." --Psalm 68:19

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light"  --Matthew 11:28-30

Oh, to think that God, my Savior, carries my burdens each day...and desires to give me rest!  What an incredible blessing!  But it requires me going to Him with my problems.  Running to my dear husband or my best gal friend will not give me rest...now, why in the world do I most often choose the "good" instead of going straight to the "best"?

******************************************************************************

Lord,

Thank You

for daily bearing my burdens...

for waiting for me so patiently...

and for giving me rest

from all of the things that make me weary.

Please help me to remember

that You want me to come 

to You first before

running to other people...

to daily get my rest

from You.