StReSs

How do you deal with stress? What is stress? Are you stressed? Do you think stress has long term effects? I hope this stress is temporary...

These are questions that can be heard in most married conversations, ours not to be excluded, or any close relationship conversation for that matter. In fact, we are dealing with some of these questions right now. It’s amazing what loving families will do to “make it work”. It makes me sad to think, what if I was not in a loving marriage/family? Stress is one thing but lonely and stressed is unbearable. I am so thankful that is not my situation. Our innocent son keeps us smiling and laughing constantly, and my husband works harder than two people at both jobs. I am not lonely; I am loved. I am so lucky.

To go through thickness and still be joyful is truly a gift and I must think, what if I were not joyful? How sad to lose one’s joy. Finding joy in small things keeps me going.
Last night, we made a very cheap yet still healthy dinner. We were proud of ourselves for being so frugal, but we were slightly wishing we could just splurge and go out to eat for dinner. Then, my adorable husband got out the good dishes smiling and saying, “Why not?”

At some time or another, everyone has hard times, tight times, tough times, sad times, angry times, regretful times, you name it. We must be in control of our response to the cards we are dealt. Are you familiar with the term locus of control? In case you are not, I will attempt a simple explanation based only on a psychology minor.
A person with an external locus of control feels that everything is being done to them. This person might use language like, “The glass just turned over!” instead of “I spilled my drink!” which would be an internal locus of control, where you are in control throughout your circumstances good and bad.

Sometimes I would rather have an external controlling factor because I don’t feel personally responsible. But it doesn’t work that way. I am accountable for my words and actions, even thoughts, whether I feel in control or not, therefore, why not feel in control?! If I am responsible, I might as well be empowered. If I feel like things are hard, I might as well look for the good. Back to the original question, if I feel like things are STRESSFUL, I might as well look for peace.

Peace for me looks like: cleaning my house out of pride not duty, baking a surprise just because out of ingredients I already have, watering plants and observing new growth, singing to my son, going for a walk before the sun is up, marveling at how blessed I am to be married to such a wonderful man, eating off the good dishes.

When you are stressed, what does peace look like for you? Are you stressed? If so, may the Lord who is rich in mercy and abundant in love, meet your needs and may you feel empowered within your circumstances.
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7


Peace to you and your family.