Three Word Wednesday: Take a Breath

I’m linking this up over at 152 Insights to My Soul.

From Kristin: #ThreeWordWednesday is simple, really. I know we’re all busy with life and kids and jobs and parents and friends and church and whatever else it is that occupies our time. Some weeks I’m not sure what my post will be about, but knowing people will show up here on Wednesdays is good motivation to write something.#ThreeWordWednesday is a chance to pause and hear God. Sum up what you’re hearing in three words. Those three words are enough. But stories are good too.

Take a Breath

Yesterday just got to me. I don’t know what caused it. Maybe the rain, maybe the endless list of tasks, maybe the twin teething toddlers (oy).

I found myself short tempered and snippy.

The little boys wanted to do nothing but nurse since their teeth hurt but because their teeth hurt so did nursing. They were miserable no matter what. If I got up off the couch they would both burst into tears. If I sat down they climbed all over me. Or stood in the middle of the room screaming because they would need to take a few steps to reach me. 

I managed to clean the bathroom but I had a running list of other chores in my head that needed to get done. Laundry needed to be flipped and clean clothes needed to be folded. The dishes were mostly done but the counters were covered in crumbs and don’t even get me started on the floor! 

And after several gorgeous spring days where we could run in the sunshine and go for nice walks the grey rainy sky took over and the wind came on full force. Yuck. 

So I was moody. And I didn’t want to take it out on the kids or stuff my face with snacks but I found myself giving curt responses to questions and grabbing handful after handful of crackers. 

Take a breath. 

That still small voice spoke to me. 

Take a breath.

I finished nursing the boys for the twentieth time that day. I made sure everyone else was okay. And I put myself in time out in my room down the hall. I took a breath. I brought my tired and frazzled self to the Lord. 

Return to your rest, my soul, for the Lord has been good to you. Psalm 116:7

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord. Psalm 150:6

Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him. Psalm 62:5

Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4:16

I emerged from my “time out” feeling refreshed. Feeling peaceful. The children managed without me for the time I needed to pause and seek God. The time I needed to take a breath.