“I have a surprise for you,” she said.
They began to walk to the car as he recalled the events of his day. She opened the door to reveal the surprise – a blue snow cone, his favorite flavor.
He was overwhelmed with joy and excitement, but as he reached for the cool treat he began to cry. He wanted the snow cone that his mother bought him, but he just could not carry it.
He wore a heavy backpack on his shoulders, with a lunchbox in one hand and several drawings in the other hand.
“Mom!” He cried. “I can’t carry it!”
His hands were full.
The mother gently asked her son to lay down the items that weighed him down. He gladly dropped everything at her feet in exchange for that refreshing treat. She understood.
Blessings feel more like burdens when your hands are full.
Psalm 69:18 says, “Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah.”
God plans to bless us each day with things that will benefit us. So often I have viewed these blessings as burdens because I just could not carry the weight of everything on my plate.
When people see me with my five kids, they love to say, “Wow, you have your hands full!”
And I can no longer come up with clever responses to that obvious statement. I usually just smile, nod my head, and move on. My hands are always full. But you don’t have to raise children for your hands to be full.
Many coaches' wives are overwhelmed with work, school, relationships, and responsibilities. We also carry the mental load of public pressure, anxiety, and yearly fears surround job loss.
We have things that weigh us down. But God wants us to exchange the heaviness of our burdens for His tender blessings. Psalm 55:22 says, “Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee.”
Surrender it all to him. So, dear coach’s wife, here are some practical ways to cast your burdens on God and regain your balance mid-season.
Write it down
Some days, my head is spinning.
The things I can see (daily tasks, appointments, team meals, and groceries) pile up on top of the things no one sees--like Mom-guilt, regret about the past, and worries over the future.
It feels like a juggling act. And I’ve dropped too many balls to count. Have you been there?
STOP. Write down those thoughts as fast as you can. Pray about it. Cross off what's not so important. Circle what cannot wait.
Add to the list other things as they come to your mind. Check items off as you accomplish them. Keep the list somewhere visible so you can read over it and remind yourself of God’s sustaining grace for your daily needs.
I like to write Psalm 57:2 somewhere on my list. “I will cry unto God most high; unto God that performeth all things for me.”
Take a break
Yes, you can do this. Take a walk. Lie down in your bed. Sit on your porch or at your desk. Listen to some calming music.
Ask those around you (kids, Coach, coworkers) to give you five minutes alone. Close your eyes, breathe deeply and ask God to give you enough clarity to process what must be accomplished.
Then wait on him and claim this promise from Isaiah 40:31, “But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”
Change your perspective
Have you ever tried to carry 7 bags of potatoes? That’s a cumbersome load. Carrying all those bags from your car to your house would be a difficult task.
But what if you carry your sleeping toddler the same distance? The heaviness of their body and the warmth of their breath is quite calming.
Same weight, different perspective. Ask God to give you a fresh perspective on the things you must carry.
Believe that God cares for you
This is the greatest reason to cast those burdens on the Lord. 1 Peter 5:7 says, “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”
God does not love us more when we carry our weights well. Because He loves us, He wants us to cast them on Him. He will always carry them better than we do.
So drop those burdens at His feet and choose the blessings He wants to lavish on you.
You've got this friend! You aren't alone in this coaching life, even in the moments when you feel unsteady. I hope these five suggestions will help you regain your balance today or anytime you need a moment to remember the bigger picture of this amazing life.