It's like a clamp around every heart, pressing down when we least expect it, causing shooting pains and other classic warning signs.
Like we're all aching to just take in a full breath.
"Busy-ness".
I was struck by this line from an old song recently; I hope it can be the burst of oxygen we all need:
When strivings cease.
To the stay-at-home parent who feels overlooked/insignificant in the "grand scheme" of how the world works ... when strivings cease.
To the working parent who feels like they're failing ... when strivings cease.
To the overtaxed leader ... when strivings cease.
To the woman who looks in the mirror and just sees things that need to be "fixed" ... when strivings cease.
To the parent/friend of kids/teens feeling dejected ... when strivings cease.
To the person feeling rejected ... when strivings cease.
To the older person who feels irrelevant ... when strivings cease.
To the younger person out to prove something ... when strivings cease.
To the person who feels invigorated/dejected by a full/empty calendar ... when strivings cease.
To the woman who feels like she has to be a part of {or have a hand in} everything ... when strivings cease.
To the woman who attempts to control everything (because she secretly feels out of control) ...
when strivings cease.
To the provider, the leader, the mentor, the father, the mother, the friend ... when strivings cease.
As these days continue to slip between our fingers, and with time so short, let it be our collective thinking & prayer to surrender daily, *ALL* to Jesus. Our Captain, our Protector, our Friend ... apart from Whom we can do & be... nothing {from dust to dust}.
See, when our striving ceases, His Love and Power are magnified & then unleashed {in and through us} out into the hurting world that so desperately needs it. Are they worth it? And are we willing to let go?