Superwoman

This morning I had the opportunity to drive myself to work. You see, my husband Luke and I work at the same place, which in our eyes, is truly a blessing. We not only get to ride to work together, but we also come home together. What’s funny is that as a teenage girl, I always dreamt of working in full-time ministry with my husband. Honestly, I never thought it would look like this, but grateful I am. It has been a blessing.

You see, I was able to drive myself to work today because Luke and I had another long night with our little guy. For some odd reason, he has once again decided to wake up multiple times throughout the night. I blame it on his teeth. Being that Luke is such a great husband, he did the majority of the night duty, so he ended up coming into work a few minutes late.

As I was driving to work, I just really wanted to worship God. Honestly, it has been a REALLY rough month for the Bennett’s. It all started when Liam got a nasty virus that took him out for a few days. Then Luke got the virus that pretty much put him out of work for a week. Then, we think it attacked me. I ended up in the hospital last Thursday with horrible stomach cramps that would just not go away. They ended up keeping me overnight to monitor the situation and on Friday, sent me home with a diagnosis of a virus. On top of all that, Liam has decided to not sleep through the night. And to make matters worse, I feel as though I am consistently tired.

Needless to say, it has been a rough month


I have to admit, this month has brought about many feelings of inadequacy. Can you relate? I can’t remember a time where I just felt so inadequate as a wife and mother. I have felt as though I don’t measure up. As if I can’t be the “Superwoman” that so many times I feel I need to be. You know, the wife who consistently loves on her husband, cooks seven well rounded meals for him throughout the week, and packs his lunch for him every night. “Superwoman” mom is one who never runs out of patience and knows exactly what to do and say to soothe her crying child, the mom who would never want alone time because that would be horrible, the mom who rocks her baby to sleep every night and in turn, is always the one who gets up in the middle of the night, joyfully. And of course, “Superwoman” always finds time to not only work a full-time job, but she can come home FULL of energy to spend on her child and husband. And last but not least, she not only has the energy, but she finds the time to get a good one hour run in keeping herself in the best possible shape for not only herself, but her husband!

I am far from being Superwoman


As I drove to work all I could do was cry as I listened to the words of the song, “I Gotta Keep Singing” from Mercy Me. Take a look at the lyrics listed below:

Another rainy day
I can't recall having sunshine on my face
All I feel is pain
All I wanna do is walk out of this place
But when I am stuck and I can't move
When I don't know what I should do
When I wonder if I'll ever make it through

I gotta keep singing
I gotta keep praising Your name
Your the one that's keeping my heart beating
I gotta keep singing
I gotta keep praising Your name
That's the only way that I'll find healing

Can I climb up in Your lap
I don't wanna leave
Jesus sing over me
I gotta keep singing

Can I climb up in Your lap
I don't wanna leave
Jesus sing over me
I gotta keep singing

Oh You're everything I need
And I gotta keep singing

Do you feel as though it’s been a long time since your face saw the sunshine? Do you just want to walk away from where you are in life right now? Do you not know what you should do? Do you wonder if you will ever make it through?

If so, let me encourage you to climb into the lap of Jesus and just let Him sing over you. These words brought healing to my soul this morning. I envisioned myself sitting in the lap of Jesus and Him just singing over me-a place that I didn’t want to leave.

Maybe you have hard a rough month too. If so, really find a quiet place and just pour your heart out to God. He wants to bring the sunshine back to your face-the sunshine that you will find when you allow yourself to sit in His lap and let Him sing over you.

Matthew 11:28

"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."

2 comments:

Celena Daniels said...

Such a good post Jennifer. I follow your blog and am on facebook as well. It is great to hear your honesty and push to follow Christ at a deep level. I think the thoughts of being a superwoman haunt many woman. It is the "shoulds" of our thoughts that drive us to this place of feeling in-adequate. I understand because I place such high emphasis on performance even in my relationships where I don't need to perform for value. That was something from my childhood that I am having to "unlearn" and a pattern that is not easily yielding. The idea of resting in Christ and abiding in Him and knowing that our true value is found in Christ alone. It is freeing to have those days where our doings are purely out of a place of knowing who we belong to and are part of a way to honor Christ, not to have these duties be what gives us value. I think striving for goals and for excellence in all we do is great, but when it becomes what defines us, then I think it crosses the line of how Christ wants to define us. Thanks so much for sharing and being real!

Jennifer Bennett, MACE, LPC, LPF said...

Celena! Thanks so much for your comment. Like you, I think the Superwoman thoughts haunt many women, myself included. As you mentioned, we have to be careful in making sure that the things we do, do not become what defines us.

Thanks for sharing your heart! Miss you and I pray that things are going wonderful!