Thorns in the flesh need not be fatal

Recently I opened my closet door and wondered,

“What did I want in here?”

Try as I might, I could not remember. Eventually, I closed the door and gave up, when it occurred to me…

“Oh yeah! The cd I was loaning a friend!”

I shook my head, retrieved the prize, and chalked the incident off to yet another bout of Mom-nesia.

This is not the first time Mom-nesia has raised its forgetful head, and unlikely to be the last. From what I've learned, Mom-nesia’s been around as long as care taking itself. This malady is not restricted to the female population, although the primary sufferers tend to be us gals. There’s no need to beat ourselves up over these slips, as our problem is not rooted in age, hormones or lack of wits – we’re just trying to take care of too much for too many!

You afflicted?

Early signs of Mom-nesia include refusal of the mouth to cooperate with the brain.

Example:
You know whom you’re addressing yet as you utter what you think will be their name, out rolls every member of your family tree and then some! Not until you spout anyone you’re ever known since birth and their pets, does their title burst from your tongue!

The same goes for words. Ever been having a robust conversation when suddenly you’re rendered speechless, unable to utter another syllable?

Frustrated you begin,

‘Starts with…uh…sounds like…uh’ the hearty dialogue you were just exchanging has digressed to playing Charades in a vain attempt to recapture the momentum lost when your mind and mouth left the room.

While Mom-nesia can be a thorn in the flesh, it need not be fatal.

Begin each day just you and the Lord. Take a walk, a class, read a book, enjoy a quiet cup of coffee or tea and just be. Allow yourself time for God to speak into the chaos that often fills our lives as we attempt to meet the needs of so many.

Jesus took the disciples away for this very purpose (Mark 6: 30-56). Having spent the day surrounded by a throng that wanted one more Word, touch, or healing, Christ led the 12 away. Jesus then went onto a mountain to spend quite time with His Father. He returned renewed and revived, ready to pour Himself out to the masses once more.

What an example He set for us…one we would be wise to follow. We may not come off the mountain a picture of perfection, but we could find it easier to forgive our overtaxed memory, letting it instead remind us to quit trying to be everything to everybody and spend a bit more time with our Father.