Holding It All Together

“You’re the glue that holds everything together.”

I would guess that I’m not the only wife and mother who has either heard it, thought it, or feels it.

I suppose it’s a compliment. Or at least it was on the cutesy Mother’s Day card I saw at the store several months ago.

The first time I thought about myself as the one who holds it all together, it felt kind of empowering. That’s right. I am the one who keeps us all on track.

After a while, it started to feel annoying. Okay, people…you don’t need to come to me for everything.

Lately, however, it just makes me feel tired. Listen up—do it yourself or do without it.

Now, before you suck in your breath at that last statement and think I’m ungrateful, I’m not. I’m very thankful for what God has blessed me with…but I’m also being honest.

That cute Mother’s Day card I saw should have said on the inside: “You must be exhausted.” But it didn’t.

The truth is no matter if you’re a wife and mother, a single mother, a daughter and care giver, or somewhere in between, being the glue that holds everything together is tiring. And in long, drawn-out, real-life situations it is exhausting.

I have to believe I’m not the only one who knows what it feels like. Maybe you’re…

- The one who tries to stay hopeful when nothing is going the way we want it to, and everyone is getting weary…and irritable.

- The one who keeps pouring into others, but is feeling empty herself.

- The one who starts feeling lost while trying to keep everyone on the right path.

- The one who champions others, but feels alone and unsupported.

- The one who tries to keep it all together when it feels like everything is falling apart.

Even the best glue gets tired and won’t hold forever.

Over time, when glue gets stretched too thin, it loses its grip. It might start underneath where it can’t be seen. Or perhaps it’s a barely visible crack in the smooth exterior that goes unnoticed. Either way, without reinforcement, that crack will continue to spread or snap completely.

To fix physical objects, we can add more adhesive. (I’ve been known to do this.)

Or jury-rig a quick fix. (Yes, I’ve been known to do this also. MacGyver it. It’s a real term. Thank you 1980s.)

But, what happens when we’re the glue? Then what?

The truth is no amount of glue on the outside will fix what only God can do on the inside. {Tweet this}

So, what do we do when we’re the one holding it all together and the weight becomes too heavy to bear? {Tweet this}

Please join me at Candidly Christian where I talk about 3 steps we can take when the load gets too heavy. When You Feel Like You're Holding It All Together.

In Christ,
Laura

[Photo credit: Candidly Christian]

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