Beyond

It has been a while since I have participated in the Five Minute Fridays over at The Gypsy Mama.  This past Friday’s word caught my eye because it was such a unique word, and it immediately evoked a memory from my early days of motherhood.  Even though it is Monday, I’d still like to participate, so here goes…

Beyond

When my children were infants, I worked very hard to get them on a schedule.  Every now and then, due to illness or life circumstances, the schedule would get interrupted.  They would either not nap long enough in the afternoon, or skip the afternoon nap altogether.  If they had a short nap, by around 3pm they would get to the point where they were beyond their ability to cope, and get fussy.  I could usually distract them with a toy or taking them out in the stroller for some fresh air.  On those days when the nap just didn’t happen, by early evening they would get to the stage that I termed “beyond, beyond.”  They were inconsolable no matter what I tried to do.  On those occasions, I discovered that the only way to calm them down was to sit in the rocking chair, place their little heads on my chest near my heart and rock, and rock, and rock.

Life has its ups and downs, and sometimes we may feel as if we reach a point where we are beyond our ability to cope.  Then there are those trials in life that are excruciating, whether due to length of time or intensity of the situation.  It is very easy to feel overwhelmed, and like we are “beyond, beyond” our ability to cope.  What a great reminder that if we draw close to the heart of our Father during difficult times, we will find Him there…

…even in the “beyond, beyond.”

"Now to Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever.  Amen."  (Ephesians 3:20-21)