WHERE Are My Ducks????

WHERE Are My Ducks?????  Silly title?  Well, bear with me................years ago, I would often say to my husband that I needed to get "my ducks in a row" and then I would be all set. 

 I liked having my "ducks in a row". I liked feeling "on top" of things. 

 I had my lists and checked them often and loved marking off items as I completed them. I felt efficient, purposeful and orderly. It was great!

When I got married and started having children, there were more "ducks" to tend to and I had to work harder and harder, but I was determined to keep that orderly row of ducks.....

I handled the messes, the extra work and the fun- and just kept tending to the increasing number of ducks.

If things got overwhelming, I would make a new list or two and work really hard, lose sleep if necessary,  and get all of those ducks back into a "row".  It felt good.

 Often I would notice someone with their disorderly life and then look with pride at all my ducks in a row and think to myself that if they just used "my system", then their ducks would all be in a row also.

 Then, my "ducks" started acting up. They resisted my efforts to keep them in a row. My responsibilities continued to increase.... husband, children, medical problems for one child, doctor appointments, medical procedures that I had to perform for my son, making many quarts of sterilized water, keeping medical charts for my son, trying desperately to keep my son alive, living on an extremely tight budget, eating healthy, gardening, etc, etc.
  
Pretty soon, I had so many ducks....that I couldn't even find all of them!

It seemed that everywhere I looked, there were more ducks, and they were not at all in a row.

Panic set in..........I tried to find all of the ducks and put them in the best order that I could......I would be so glad to finally be a bit more organized.....then all of a sudden, there would be ducks in other places again.

Everywhere I looked, there were ducks.................WHAT was I supposed to do?  I used to LIKE ducks.......but now, it felt like the ducks were taking over. My responsibilities started to feel overwhelming......

I would find ducks wherever I looked....on a shelf that needed to be dusted, in a sink of more dirty dishes, the laundry hamper, another meal to make, kids wanting a snack, more papers to grade, needing to spend quality(?) time with my husband, being a good friend to others, gardening, bushes to be trimmed, and more and more and more.

I still kept my lists............but instead of helping me...........they oppressed me and I felt I was a slave to them.

 I wanted a  break from all of the "Duck Management Issues"......I was tired......I was weary.....and I was starting to dislike.........ducks.

Here, there and everywhere.................

Those wonderful ducks.....weren't so wonderful anymore. Where I used to feel like I could be Mrs. Wonderful Wife, Supermom, Great Teacher and more..........I started feeling unable to do anything, except try to corral a few ducks....if they let me. 

 I started to feel like I was a failure....and wondered if others noticed my messy ducks. I felt embarrassed, knowing that I had been critical of others, and feeling the criticism of my current "Chaotic Duck Status".

The ducks continued to show up, seeming to mock me with their presence in so many places. 

I sadly noticed all the ducks....knowing I couldn't control them...........I just had too much to do.

Finally, I had a thought......

Knowing that God won't give me more than I can handle..................and I couldn't handle all of my "ducks" anymore................I figured out that I must be trying to take care of more "ducks" than God intended for me. 

 What a thought! The issue became.....trying to figure out which "ducks" God wanted me to keep track of.............and which ones had to go.

That was/is a LOT harder than it sounds......there are so many "ducks" (responsibilities) that I cannot get rid of......... and some that I like to keep on my list.

First of all, I repented of my prideful spirit....and humbled myself before the Lord.....asking Him to do a mighty work in my life.....

...........and I am looking for those things that I am doing in my flesh....rather than in the spirit.  I am asking God to show me what things to let others do and what things don't need to be done at all. Then I am trying to honor Him with my responsibilities and not "faint" under them.

My husband and a son have been willing to buy groceries if I give a list......I have taught different children to make certain treats...shortbread, butterscotch bars, etc. My older daughter makes many meals and sometimes bread and does most of the laundry. I still have plenty to keep me busy- really busy.....and the others in my home are not mad at helping me.....in fact, they need to be involved more.....

So, anyway, I took off my SUPERMOM cape and put it in the give away pile......... but then I realized that NO MOM should try to be SUPERMOM, so I took it out of the giveaway pile and put it in the trash where it belongs.

We need to encourage each other to be all that GOD wants us to be....and no more.

If I come to your house and see some of your ducks in odd places, I will give you grace.....and I hope you will give me grace.....and give grace to other sisters also. We can encourage each other to keep important things at the top of our list. We don't need to compete WITH each other.....we each serve the Lord Jesus Christ and encourage each other. Sure, we can have a schedule and be orderly - God is a God of order...........but we should never obsess over it.

I have come to realize that my ducks won't always be in a row, and I really appreciate when they are.....................

............or at least when I can find them......:) 


Thank you for visiting today.........I need to go check on my "ducks".   :)









Shared on.....................



Snickerdoodle Make Bake Create
Scraptastic Saturday
Friday Frivolity
Friday Family Link Up
Blogger's Pit Stop
Traffic Jam Weekend Link Party
Foodie Friday and Everything Else
Share Your Cup Thursday
Paula's No Rules Weekend Party
Vintage Charm Link Party
Writer Wednesday
Homemaking Link Up
Wednesday AIM Link Party
Talk of the Town
Tuesdays With a Twist
Tuesday Talk
Inspire Me Tuesday
Tuesdays At Our Home
Inspire Me Monday
Friday at the Fire Station
Foodie Friday and Everything Else
Home Sweet Home
Wise Woman
Tuesday Talk
Modest Mom Mondays
Art of Homemaking Mondays