by Sara Rivera, Merrillville, Indiana

HAVE YOU EVER AWAKENED in the morning with expectations of all you’re going to accomplish that day? Have you started something and not been able to finish? Do you feel like you’ve spent your day just changing diapers and cleaning up spills? Would life be easier if there were just two of you? Does it ever seem as though there are not really 24 hours in a day? Ever felt overwhelmed and that you had just too much on your plate?

If you have…you’re not alone! I have felt this way time and time again.A few months ago I found myself overwhelmed with trying to meet my family’s needs. We had just had a new baby, our two older kids were involved in extracurricular activities, I was working three days a week, not to mention cleaning the house and doing the laundry, cooking, grocery shopping—oh my, the “to-do list” could go on and on.

While it is my greatest joy and honor to be a wife and mother, I felt like I was not finishing anything. I knew I needed to find out how to change this feeling. Here are a few things I do daily to help me stay calm when I feel like my plate is too full.

• PRAY AND ASK THE LORD FOR HIS HELP AND GUIDANCE.

I must admit there have been many times in my life that I found myself too busy for my time with the Lord. Those are the days I feel the most overwhelmed. The most important thing you can do in your day is to make time for the Lord. Nothing else is more important.

I love Psalm 143:8, which says,

“Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.” I wrote this verse on a 3×5 card and taped it to the wall in our house. I want to constantly be reminded that God knows what I should do daily.All I need to do is trust Him.

• PRIORITIZE YOUR “TO-DO” LIST.

I remind myself that God is first, then my husband, then our children, then my job, and then “fun.” Having priorities has helped me realize that I can’t always do everything, but doing what God deems important brings the most rewards.

• ASK FOR HELP.

Following this advice is hard for me. I want to be a “superwoman” and do everything myself while still having those few hours at the end of the day to sit down with my husband to talk and snuggle. I have learned that doesn’t come without help; the help doesn’t come without asking. God has blessed me with an amazing husband and three wonderful children who want to help but don’t know what to do. Ask them, and then you won’t resent them for not helping.

Remember that how you feel determines how you act. Trust the Lord; He will help you accomplish exactly what you should and stay calm even when your plate is full and running over.