Reflections from the Fog that is the first trimester

Wow, who knew that the backspace button could function so efficiently! I have started oodles of blogs, looked at my ridiculousness, and held down the key that makes it all disappear. Then I feel emptied of any writing inspiration that jogged me into starting the endeavor.

I think about making vain promises...as I have in the past. So I don't. To be honest, I am in the doldrums of Nausea. I am thankful for this Nausea for so many reasons.

Let me be clear...for the past four weeks, I have endured (and not very gracefully) the worst pregnancy related all day sickness of my three pregnancies. I wake up feeling ill, I eat feeling ill, I sleep feeling ill, I drink water feeling ill. When I abstain from one or all of these things, I still feel ill. Okay! Glad I got the whining out of the way.

The advantages of this sickness have been multiple.

The Lord has reminded me to lift my dear friends who suffer chronically to Him in prayer with more fervency on their behalf than I had previously felt. These godly people suffer daily and gracefully at His hand because He knows best, and I have been more encouraged and humbled by the steadfastness and grace I have seen in their lives.

There is merit to anything that can be accomplished. Just because I may be getting the kids dressed at 11:00 in the morning....the fact that I am still doing things in order, but not on time is good. This is no time for my perfectionist frustration.

It is okay to let other people clean for me! I feel like a failure, but have to remind myself of the bigger picture. It helps me to have a clean house (one less thing I feel overwhelmed about), so however it is accomplished, I need to cheerfully accept the help, and not dwell on the failure I am by not washing, sweeping, etc.

Grace to others! I don't know what they are going through. Mentally, I ought not chastise them for lack of discipline or gumption.

Being sick has not prohibited me from playing for church, being in a wedding, keeping my family fed, getting the kids dressed, and even working out somewhat regularly....God really does give me the strength to do what is needful.

I wish I had some encouraging ending, but I am so encouraged and tired from writing this that I am going to publish without a second thought and go to bed!

Good Night!