Have you seen Mom’s Night Out? It’s a movie that released a little over a year ago, right around mothers day. It took us almost a year to see and my darling husband found it at a store and bought it for me……I LOVE THAT MOVIE. Without fail, it makes me cry..Every. Single Time ! No joke and it usually is a different part each time, for it meets me right where I am in that moment.
The title of this blog post comes from that movie, and it is the very thing my husband said to me 4 days ago. I was a bit uncertain about this week. In all honesty I was having second thoughts about the entire idea. My husband had this idea for me a year ago as we were making he decision to place our camper on a permanent lot at a Bible Conference a few hours from home. We had no idea at that time what our lives would look like in a year and let me tell you if I had the choice to live this last year over again, Im not sure I could do it. It’s only by God’s amazing grace that we have made it through with our marriage and family intact and I believe stronger. Im still not ready to post about it, but it IS coming I promise. We were hurt in some horrible ways. Most people who know of our last year are shocked that we are still where we are. And we had no idea that the decision to put our camper at the Bible Conference would lead to such great healing and respite for our family. So here I sit. IN my little retreat I have been completely alone for nearly 36 hours. Im at peace. I am feeling refreshed and renewed and I sill have another 3 1/2 days . I have written and read and studied and blogged. I have rested ….AND BARELY SPOKEN TO ANYONE! I have talked to my husband and kids a few times over the last day on the phone but that is the limit of my conversing. It’s ok Im an introvert. Maybe that’s why I needed this so much.
The premise of needing to putting on my oxygen mask is this…a quote from one of my college profs
And that was the premise behind the overly long observation of the husband in Mom’s Night Out. The dad travels A LOT. So when he FINALLY connected the dots, the idea of the oxygen mask in the airplane resonated with him. you have to help yourself before you can help someone else get their mask on. I needed to take some deep spiritual cleansing breaths before I can tackle another round of insanity.. If I don’t have my relationship with God front and center, how can I possibly give my kids and husband what they need? How can I teach? How can I write to you? My husband knew this line would resonate with me and it did…it made me smile to. he told me ” you need this, and you are going to love it” He was right…..on both counts.
So I want to say THANKS HONEY, for cheering me on to do this, to go beyond my normal, to stretch myself and to feed my soul . and if you happen to be a guy reading this and your wife is looking a little…or a lot frazzled, why don’t you consider a way to encourage her to put on her oxygen mask! and if you are a mom, can I just take a moment to encourage you to take a step back, take a deep refreshing breath and sit at the feet of Jesus. Turn your chair away from the chaos that is where you are and face it to a window. I know what it is to not have the words to say, the tears flow easily and no words come. I know that ache that makes you want to be sick and I want you to know that HE hears the very cry of your heart without uttering One.Single. Sound. he knows and he loves you even in the biggest of messes! Wont you meet him there He’s waiting!
