I have been thinking about this post for about 5 days now. I see so many people stressed out. Some by circumstance and others by their own doing. I look back at how busy our lives use to be. Don’t get me wrong I LOVED it, but wow was I overloaded. It was my own doing. I loved being a part of something that I saw making a difference and I wanted to do all I could. It was all good things, touching lives and trying to make a difference but I allowed it to take over my life. I had 2 little ones at the time and I know that they got what they needed and felt loved and all that good stuff but I also know that I was easily frustrated and overwhelmed much of the time. So today is a new day I will not allow myself to put to much on my plate and I refuse to feel pressure from others to do more. Now we have 4 kids and it is all I can do to keep my head on straight day to day. I have added some ministry to my plate and I enjoy that a great deal. I can say today that I look forward to what God has for us to do. I have learned how to put up boundaries to protect my time and family. I wish that people understood that doing good and doing for God doesn’t have to consume your everything. put aside time for your family and don’t allow things to take all of your time. An easy test to see if your overloaded is by looking at how you respond to your spouse and your children. If you seem on edge and everything seems to bother you then you may need a time out. Your family is the closest to you and the easiest to unleash on. When things are in order and your not so stretched you can relate to all of them in a different manner. This is just my experience and felt I should share. I see way to many people, doing and doing, their family pays for it by frustration and a worn out spouse and parent. God has so much for us all to do. The key word is ALL. There are many people and keys to His puzzle so let others come along side and help lighten the load.