True Stress Relief
As a Speech-Language Pathologist, just before
Christmas can be an extremely busy time in the Rehab and Chronic care
hospital where I work. Besides my out-patient responsibilities, I am
currently responsible for a chronic floor and a rehab floor, and as
Christmas approached, the referrals began to mushroom. At one point, I
counted up a total of 70 patients I was responsible for in a single week.
I did everything I could to see them all. I went without lunch. I came in
early. I worked late. But no matter what I did, I couldn't get ahead. With
the new referrals requiring a significant amount of time, there was no human
way I could adequately care for 70 patients in one week. I forgot things. I
made mistakes. I just couldn't do it all, and there was no one to help me.
Naturally, between driving "taxi" for my two teens, making Christmas plans,
and the normal busy home life of a working mom, there was no relief at home.
I cut into my sleep to cope. Now I was trying to do the impossible without
enough sleep. No wonder my stomach was in a constant knot and I would cry at
the drop of a hat.
I finally approached my manager. I told her how busy I was and that my
patients weren't getting adequate care. She was very understanding, but
there was no one to ease my burden. I left the meeting in tears. How was I
supposed to go on?
All through this, Jesus was continually repeating the same message to me:
"Cast all of your burdens on Me." It was great advice, but didn't He know
that if I let go of my duties they would only mushroom?
One morning I found myself again driving to work in tears. I had to pick up
my son from school that evening, which meant I would be home later than
usual. I had tried to tell my family to have supper (that I had
pre-prepared) ready because I would only have about 15 minutes before
leaving for my evening responsibilities, but no one would listen. I knew
they were carrying their own stresses, but why couldn't they listen to my
one little tiny concern? Didn't they know they were only adding to MY
stress?
God reminded me that morning of several important Truths:
1. "My God will provide for ALL your needs according to His riches in
glory in Christ Jesus." (Phil. 4:19)
2. "God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you
are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, that
you may be able to endure it." (1 Cor. 10:13)
3. "I can do ALL things through Christ who gives me strength." (Phil
4:13)
I meditated on these for the rest of my drive, and I felt a bit better as I
entered my office. Until I saw the mountain of work I had left on my desk
from the previous day, that is, and as I sat down to do a quick email check
before heading up to the floor to observe breakfasts, the tears began to
flow anew.
Every morning there is a prayer read over the intercom of the Catholic
hospital where I work. It was the prayer of St. Francis this morning, and
though I was in the middle of something, I felt compelled to drop everything
and really listen:
"O Divine Master. Grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to
console; to be understood, as to understand; to be loved, as to love; for it
is in giving that we receive, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and
it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life." (The Prayer of St.
Francis)
Suddenly I understood my problem. I was focussing on my own needs, and the
fact that I could do nothing about them only worsened the stress. By
focussing on the needs of others, I give God free reign in my life to
provide for all of my needs, to take care of my stress!
Wow.
The tears flowed anew, but this time they were healing tears. As I cried, I
could feel the stress, the anger, and feelings of loss of control, all wash
away, leaving me feeling not only peaceful, but joyful!
This was true stress relief!
It was a good day. I put my emphasis on serving others, and not only did I
accomplish a lot, but I made a difference in the lives of my patients. I
left work feeling refreshed and at peace.
But that's not all. I learned before leaving work that I didn't need to pick
up my son from school after all. I arrived home 30 minutes earlier than
expected, and supper was ready and waiting on the table. I actually had time
to enjoy my dinner, make lunches for the next day, and do the dishes before
having to leave for my evening responsibilities.
Why was it a good day? Because I let God take care of my needs so that I
would be freed up to care for the needs of others!
Friends, when you focus on the needs of others rather than on yourself, God
will take care of you! He is faithful! Was it for nothing that He, Himself,
told us to: "Come unto me all you who are weary and heavily burdened, and
I will give you rest" (Matt. 11:28)?
Take Him at His word! Focus your efforts on the needs of others, for in so
doing, you move out of the way enough that God can carry you!
It's TRUE stress relief!
In His love,
Lyn
Lyn Chaffart, Mother of two teens, Speech-Language Pathologist, Author and
Moderator for The Nugget, a tri-weekly internet newsletter, and Scriptural
Nuggets, a website devoted to Christian devotionals and inspirational poems,
www.scripturalnuggets.org ,
with Answers2Prayer Ministries,
www.Answers2Prayer.org .