I Survived the Week...Kinda

Last week was a CRAZY week. I've been looking at the week on the calendar for months and dreading it. That's not a good thing, because it really was filled with lots of wonderful events like Anson's Triangle Youth Brass Band Concert.

Here's the whole Dohm crew.

Nolan and Anson with my insane brother popping up behind.

The horn player himself.

From there we left for a soccer tournament in Wilmington. It was a fantastic weekend of watching great games!

Nolan's the one with the funky purple cleats. (That boy loves his cleats!)

These things could be added to my list of fun things to do. Unfortunately, the week was so full that I found myself in overload mode.

Overlode mode is not pretty in Amy Carroll's world. Her family doesn't enjoy it much either.

As I sit in this quiet morning, I have to confess that I didn't handle the week consistently well, and I want to handle the next round of craziness better. (There will be another round eventually no matter how we try to protect our family's schedule. Such is life. Sometimes it can't be helped.)

I was reading the book of Ruth this morning for my Sunday school class next week. I think we've read through Ruth about 6 times or more in the past few weeks. This morning Ruth really spoke to me about handling overload. This is what I've learned for next time:

• Cling to the right things. Ruth clung to Naomi, but in doing so she was clinging to the One True God. I love the saying, "I'm too busy not to pray today." On some days last week, I lost out by not clinging to God and seeking Him that morning for my provision.
  
• Trust. Even though Ruth lived during a time that an unmarried woman was unprotected and unprovided for, she never seemed rattled. She trusted God for provision, and acted to go get that provision. I need to trust that God can provide for me what I need for each day. Sometimes that's material and sometimes that's patience and joy!
  
• Obey. Ruth was obedient to Naomi and the new customs of the culture around her. I need to be obedient to God and the customs of His Kingdom. Sometimes that's countercultural to our own surroundings!

This morning I had some repenting to do. I'm so thankful for second chances. Next time I have a week on the calendar that looms large, I'm going to pray before, during and after that God will be magnified and I will be less. Thank you, Ruth, for setting an example for us to follow!