It was a rough couple of weeks in our household with everyone falling sick, including my husband and me. Having a sick household can be extremely overwhelming. You have little ones who are needy for your time and attention. They want different things- they don’t want to eat what they love, their sleep is disrupted, their fussy at playtime, and don’t want to sleep in their bed. But the thing that brings me down is the worrying that comes with the sickness. The minute they have unusual symptoms, you are worrying sick about why it is there and what it is. You take them to the doctor three times for the same sickness just to make sure it is not something new. My worrying manifests in the form of anxiety. We do not talk enough about it, but it is real and most parents struggle with some form of anxiety when it comes to the welfare of their family.
How do moms cope with the stress that comes with sickness? I wish I had close family by me, as they can be a great source of support and strength. I personally lean on my husband for strength because no matter what happens, he is the strongest person I know in my life. He does not get shaken by circumstances. A hug from him can melt some of my own anxiety away and give me a boost of strength to keep going and fighting through. But I know that there are moms out there who need more than the people in their life to cope with anxiety. To those I say, do whatever is needed to care for yourself because sometimes we don’t make enough time to take care of our needs.
When I am really anxious, I like to remember this verse from the Bible in Psalm 121. “I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” There is comfort in knowing that there is a mighty God who can comfort and strengthen you. The Psalm goes on to say that he will even preserve your soul. So how do we tap into the comfort of the word of God when it is hard to sit down in his presence especially at times when you feel overwhelmed and anxious. Know this – God already knows you and he will preserve your soul in your time of need. Wherever you are, say a small prayer and comfort will come your way.
