Just weeks ago, I crossed a major threshold in my education and met the halfway point in my Masters Degree! Last night I officially became a "Second Year" student in the Marriage & Family Therapy program, stepping ever closer to my goal.
Assessments, Exams, Papers, Interviews, Videos, Community engagement, and books upon books of reading to accomplish. Really? All of this will get done in the coming weeks? By me?
Yes. It will. But, not without your support. All of you - any of you - who read PARDYMAMA and reach out to me and pray for me and encourage me to no end....we are on the home stretch! The final year is here! But, at this very moment I can not imagine it all getting done. The mountain is before me, and I'm weary, and I'm in awe, and I'm oh-so-curious what is on the other side.
I struggle with the insignificancy of my life/complaints/happenings/problems/issues. I know that there are insanely unexplainable horrific things happening in the world that are far, far, far more urgent and important than my needs. I am beyond blessed, and it feels selfish to pray for myself amidst the news that surrounds us all of someone else's pain or persecution.
But, our God is bigger than it all. God is the God of "heal my friend from a terminal disease" and the same God of "help me not lose my temper with my toddler". It's bewildering and humbling to me that I can lay my stress at the foot of the cross the same as I can a global crisis. WHAT?! Yep, He's the God of it all. He cares just as much. My needs are valid, even within the context of this crazy-fallen world full of mystery and evil and challenges that run the whole spectrum.
Do you have a significant need in your personal life that seems too insignificant to ask others to pray for? I do. I have many. And I'm dumbfounded at the reminder of 1 Peter 5:7,
Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.
Catch that? ALL your anxiety. All MY anxiety. Not just the global crises, the terminal illnesses, the broken relationships, or the catastrophes...but, the stresses of work, the frustrations of motherhood, the never-ending to-do list that keeps you awake at night, and the financial concerns that keep piling up. All of it. And this gal is going back to class needing your prayers.
Would you pray for me in this season of crazy? Can you let me know how I can pray for you?
I can't do this alone, and I knew that going into it. But, at this very first day of my second year in, I'm overwhelmed with the duties before me. The next 365ish days are going to push me to the edge, and I want you all there holding my hands, helping me remember why I'm here in the first place and helping me enjoy the view.
Please pray for my ability to maintain healthy boundaries, to be able to keep my priorities and time management reasonable. Please pray for my family as they endure the brunt of my attention being spread thin, that we can work together toward this goal and grow closer through it again this year. Please pray for mindfulness for myself, that I can be in the present and maintain a grateful heart amidst the chaos, not wanting to fast-forward through this experience and just skip to the end. Whew. Thank you. THANK YOU. Your prayers mean the world to me.
Prayer changes things...but more powerfully, prayer changes people. And, it is such a unique and brilliant privilege to get to communicate directly to our Creator about our specific needs, no matter how great or small. I would LOVE the privilege to specifically pray for you as well - we're in this TOGETHER after all! Don't hesitate to shoot me an email with a prayer request. I promise to lift you up to our great big God who will tackle all our anxieties better than either of us ever could on our own.
Gonna be a great year - here we go!
Email me: emily@pardymama.com to exchange a prayer request!
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