Overcoming

The other day, I had about had it. I had five little ones crowded around me begging me for things, a sink full of dishes, laundry, and a house full of tiny little toys all over the place. Very overwhelming day. My stress level just kept building and building. And I'm not sure how to describe my mood, but I really hurt. There was something inside of me that really hurt. I felt pulled down, sad, and unable to cope. It was almost like something had grabbed me and pulled me to the ground in tears. I felt very helpless in the face of this emotion.

As mothers, days like this happen. Normally, I am pretty upbeat and enjoy being with my family. But, there are those days. For whatever reason, we all face those days, I'm sure. As I have thought about this particular day, though, I realized that I have faced pain before. Strange enough, the physical pain I felt during labor, felt similar in intensity to this emotional pain I felt that day. Something clicked with me....I have overcome this pain before....the swell of emotion the exhaustion the utter physical thought of not being able to cope....I have overcome this before. I know that though it is tough, I have the capability of pushing on through the tide.

This has become a wonderful thought to me. Strange as it may seem, it has lifted me up. It has helped me to understand pain and the purpose of pain a little better, even emotional pain. On the days that I struggle I remember that....and I remember in the end I can overcome.