Broken Plates

About 12 weeks ago we listed our home.  In two words: show condition. That was how the house had to look at all times.  Then about eight weeks ago we entered into a contract on the sale of our home.  In one word: stressful.  And about three weeks ago we moved from Highlands Ranch to Parker.  Not a major move distance-wise, but in a few words: major for the mind, body, emotions and finances.

Now we are settled.  I can breath again.  I can also think clearly again. And looking back, I’m not so pleased with how I conducted myself these past 12 weeks.  I foolishly thought I could keep life going.  Spin all the plates I’ve managed to spin all year. And conduct a gigantic life-change without dropping a plate.

I did it!  I didn’t drop a plate.  Not once.

But now I’m exhausted, spent, emotionally drained, snappy, and I don’t want to look at another moving box EVER.

Change the scenario.  Tweak the story a little. And I’ll bet you are in the midst of something similar.  Or perhaps you’ve just walked through it.  And if you are one of the blessed ones who learned your lesson a long time ago, I’m envious of you.

I think I’m most disappointed that I didn’t drop a spinning plate.  I made it into a competition of sorts—against me and myself.  How far can I push myself?  How good am I at packing a whole house while my husband travels for work?  Look, I can still home school, serve at church, grocery shop, cook, and run errands, all while looking for and purchasing a new home?

Looking back, it’s quite prideful.  Perhaps a falling plate would have knocked some humility into me.  Now I’m finding humility the hard way.

Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. Proverbs 16:18

Ouch!  The truth certainly hurts sometimes.  And this scripture hit me—hard.

However, during the past 12 weeks I’ve also learned a thing or two about grace.

Pride is nasty.  But through the grace given to me by a Loving God, pride won’t destroy me.  And I’m certainly not down for the count.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30.

Jesus says, “Krista, my yoke allows for broken plates; not the task of spinning several at a time.”

For now, I am choosing broken plates, because I’m pretty certain they can be glued back together with a little grace.