Spinning Plates
30 Apr 2009 7 Comments
in Devotionals2 Tags: daily chronic pain illness devotionals, invisible illness, rest ministries, sandra platt
“Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; He rises to show you compassion.” Isaiah 30:18 (NIV)
I may be showing my age here, but some of us may remember variety shows on television like the old Ed Sullivan Show. Often on these show there was an act with someone trying to keep plates spinning on poles up in the air. If a plate stopped spinning it fell and shattered. So this person ran around like crazy keeping all of the plates spinning for as long as possible. Even at my young elementary school age, I often wondered why?
I imagine however that many of us try to “keep plates spinning” even now. Up until my chronic illness hit 18 years ago I was a busy, active, person proudly writing my “to do” lists. At the end of each day I was so pleased with all of the things I could check off—schooling, marriage, raising a family, being a busy Pastor’s wife, and all of the busy work that comes with life.
Even after my diagnosis I stayed busy. Always doing a little bit more than I should, given my health. I did not know how to let go and live within the limits of my diseases. Through the years I have had to relearn this lesson. As more health limitations surfaced, I had to learn again and again that I cannot do everything. Our self worth is so tied in with all we can do. We
consider what we do, to be who we are.
So we wear ourselves out “spinning plates.”
Repentance, rest, quietness, and trust That is the source of our salvation and our strength. How often do we exhaust ourselves when in verse 18 “The Lord longs to be gracious to us, and He rises to show us compassion.” I am relearning this lesson once again as I face using my wheelchair more often. Rest and quietness sounds so inviting. Dear friends, He longs to show compassion on you too.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sandra Platt is a Minister’s wife who lives in North West Kentucky. She has Fibromyalgia, Sjogren’s, and Neuropathy, among other conditions as well. She is owned and comforted by her two spoiled 14-year-old cats. She enjoys reading, cooking, and being outdoors. The prayer of her heart is in Psalm 19:14.”May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.” You may visit Sandy at www.RestministriesSunroom.com
May 01, 2009 @ 00:16:14
HI Sandy!
I am smiling at your “showing your age” comment as I was past elementary school when I was watching those “spinning plates” on the variety shows!
You bring a good analogy, though. I hate the striving parts I go through and usually for naught. There is some “pushing” that needs to be done to get things done but I know the difference you are making.
What I take away from your encouragement today is to be at peace in letting the Lord help me rest in His quiet. He can keep everything in its place…no need for Him to try and keep up with those spinning plates so why should I?
Yes! Thanks.
Bless you!
Love,
Lynn
May 01, 2009 @ 01:56:04
Dear Sandy,
If you happened to read my comment on yesterday’s devotional you’ll know that I chose Isa. 30:15 as my life verse. I think it was long ago during my student days at Bible college.
And, as you may also know from reading my R.M. devos, I was also a pastor’s wife until recently.
Most of my life I’ve been trying to juggle those plates, with Attention Deficit Disorder defeating me over and over again.
If you have heard Maureen Pratt’s talk for the last Invisible Illness Week, you may remember her emphasis on “nurturing quiet.” Because it takes me so long to accomplish almost everything, and for other reason, I’m still seeking, by the Lord’s grace, to do this on a consistent basis.
I have been thinking about this issue a lot just lately. So your words have really hit home with me. I have an old 3×5″ card beside me, with these words that my husband wrote down for me a long time ago. “God is our refuge and strength, abundantly available for help in tight places … Let go, relax and know that I am God.” (NASB, marg.)
It seems to be so very hard to do that, in spite of the fact that the Lord wants to show us compassion and shower us with His blessings when we do.
Grace and peace!
Beth
May 01, 2009 @ 04:05:43
TOO SANDY,LYNN,BETH:I REMEMBER THOSE PLATES BEING CHASED.IT SEEMS LIKE I DID THAT THE ENTIRE TIME UNTIL I GOT SAVED .BUT AS THE LORD CONTINUES TOO PRUNE I REALIZED HE HAD A LONG WAY TOO GO BEFORE I WOULD QUIT ALTOGETHER CHASING THOSE SPINNING PLATES.WHEN I FINALLY ACCEPTED MY RSD ITS LIKE EVERTHING FELL INTO PLACE.I TOO HAVE TOO ENCOURAGE MYSELF TOO TAKE CARE OF THE THINGS THAT NEED TOO BE DONE.SOMETIME IT IS QUITE AN ORDEAL.BUT I KNOW I FEEL BETTER WHEN I TAKE CARE OF WHAT NEEDS TOO BE TAKEN CARE OF.WHEN I AM FATIGUED IT IS SO HARD.I HAVE TOO FORCE MYSELF THEN WHEN I KNOW MY BODY TELLS ME QUIT I KNOW TOO QUIT.NO MORE ARGUEING AS I WILL CERTAINLY PAY FOR IT.THIS TOO IS ALSO ANOTHER COMPONENT OF WHAT SO MANY OF US FACE EACH DAY. SO I THANK ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR DEVOTION TOO WRITINGS AS I AM RECEIVING ALOT OF ENCOURAGEMENT MYSELF.I ALSO NOTICE ONCE AGAIN I SEE THAT WE “BEARING ONE ANOTHERS BURDENS”.IT IS TRULY A JOY TOO VISIT THIS SITE EACH NITE.I LIKE SEEING WHAT OTHERS IN THE BODY OF CHRIST ARE THINKNG,FEELING AND EXPRESSSING.PLEASE KEEP UP THE DEVOTION TOO THE DEVOTIONS!MAY GOD BLESS ALL OF US HERE AT REST MINISTRIES,THOMAS
May 01, 2009 @ 08:53:12
Tom:
I really appreciated your comments, both about Sandy”s devotional and about how Rest Ministries gives us such good opportunities to “bear one another’s burdens” and function as part of the body of Christ.
May God meet all our real needs as we rest in His power and love.
Beth
May 07, 2009 @ 05:00:02
Thank you all for your comments. Sometimes I get discouraged when I am to ill or in pain to leave the house and do the things a Pastor’s wife “should do.” It is a blessing to know that God cares for all of us and we can bear one anothers burdens.
May 13, 2009 @ 17:20:24
Dear Sandra,
and I remember the spinning plates too, but I never thought I’d be the one trying to keep all those disks spinning. Thanks for pointing out the futility of that exercise. I can finally let the plates fall, because I know there’s no real purpose in keeping them going anyway!
I’m still quite young
I so needed to hear that message – “…the Lord longs to be gracious to you…”
Thank you,
Jan
May 18, 2009 @ 00:04:01
THANK YOU SANDRA FOR YOUR WARM REGARDS AND SHARING YOUR FEELINGS.I KNOW EXACTLY WHAT YOU MEAN ABOUT BEING TOO ILL OR IN PAIN TOO LEAVE THE HOUSE.I BET MOST EVERYBODY IN THIS SITE AND SUNROOM WHO HAVE THIS KIND OF PAIN GOES THRU THIS TRIAL TOO.I BATTLE WITH IT NEARLY EVERYDAY .IT IS HARD SOMETIMES.YOU WANT GO AND GET OUT OF THE HOUSE,BUT YOU THINK I AM ACHEING OR BURNING OR FATIGUED OR ILL ON TOP OF IT.SO WHY GO OUT? JUST TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF.I ONCE TOLD MY PAIN DOC ABOUT THIS.I TOLD HIM AFTER MY WALKS I HAVE TOO LAY DOWN AND REST FOR 3-4 HOURS SO MY RSD IS MANAGEABLE.HE SAID DO IT!YOU KNOW THAT LIFTED SOME OF THE GUILTY FEELING I WOULD GET FOR NOT GOING OUT.SO I NOW TRY AND ACCEPT IT OR ASK THE LORD TOO GIVE ME THE STRENGTH TOO GO OUT AND TAKE CARE OF MY RESPONSIBILTIES.ONCE AGAIN WE HAVE SHARED OUR BURDENS.THANK YOU SANDY AND GOD BLESS YOU,THOMAS