How to Stay Cool in the Midst of Being Oh. So. Hot.

I'M NOT REFERRING TO THE BALMY TEMPERATURES OF SUMMER, BUT RATHER THE HOT SWEATS OF MOTHERHOOD THAT ARISE IN THE MIDST OF CHALLENGING DAYS, FRUSTRATING MOMENTS, AND HIGH PITCHED SCREAMS.  HAVE YOU EXPERIENCED THE INNER BURN THAT COMES FROM WITHIN AS YOU ATTEMPT TO  SILENCE THE CHAOS, REDIRECT THE BATTLES AND QUIET THE STORMS OF YOUR HOUSEHOLD?  IT IS A WARMTH UNLIKE NO OTHER, AS YOU FIGHT THE URGE TO LOOSE YOUR COOL IN THE PRESENCE OF THOSE YOU LOVE SO MUCH.

DR. PAUL C. REISSER WRITES IN FOCUS ON THE FAMILY'S COMPLETE BOOK OF BABY & CHILD CARE, " THERE IS NO GETTING AROUND IT; BRINGING UP A TODDLER REQUIRES A SEEMINGLY LIMITLESS SUPPLY OF ENERGY.  IF YOU HAVE OTHER CHILDREN AT HOME, ESPECIALLY IF ONE OR MORE OF THEM ARE UNDER FIVE, THE DEMANDS ON YOUR ATTENTION MAY SEEM EVEN MORE OVERWHELMING.  SIMPLY MAINTAINING SOME SEMBLANCE OF ORDER CAN BE A DAUNTING TASK, AND WORRYING ABOUT SUCH NICETIES AS A CHILD'S LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT MAY SOUND LIKE A FANTASY IF YOU FEEL IMMERSED IN TOTAL CHAOS."

LIMITLESS. SUPPLY. OF. ENERGY.

NO COFFEE IN THE WORLD, NOT EVEN STARBUCK'S FINEST, CAN PROVIDE SUCH ENERGY, SUCH FUEL FOR MOTHERHOOD.  SO THEN, WHERE CAN WE TURN WHEN OUR TEMPERATURES RISE AND WE FIND THERE IS IN FACT A LIMIT TO THE AMOUNT OF ENERGY WE ARE ABLE TO EXPEND ON A GIVEN DAY?

I TURN TO THE GOD OF ALL COMFORT, THE ONE THAT IS ABLE TO RELIEVE ME OF LIFE'S BURDENSOME HEAT AND REFRESH ME IN THE COOLING WATERS OF HIS PEACE.

"PEACE I LEAVE WITH YOU; MY PEACE I GIVE TO YOU.  I DO NOT GIVE AS THE WORLD GIVES.  DO NOT LET YOUR HEARTS BE TROUBLED AND DO NOT BE AFRAID."

JOHN 14:27

"REMAIN IN ME, AND I WILL REMAIN IN YOU.  NO BRANCH CAN BEAR FRUIT BY ITSELF; IT MUST REMAIN IN THE VINE.  NEITHER CAN YOU BEAR FRUIT UNLESS YOU REMAIN IN ME.  I AM THE VINE; YOU ARE THE BRANCHES.  IF A MAN REMAINS IN ME AND I IN HIM, HE WILL BEAR MUCH FRUIT; APART FROM ME YOU CAN DO NOTHING."

JOHN 15:4-5

"COME TO ME, ALL YOU WHO ARE BURDENED, AND I WILL GIVE YOU REST.  TAKE MY YOKE UPON YOU AND LEARN FROM ME, FOR I AM GENTLE AND HUMBLE IN HEART, AND YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS."

MATTHEW 11:28-29

"MY SOUL FINDS REST IN GOD ALONE; MY SALVATION COMES FROM HIM.  HE ALONE IS MY ROCK AND MY SALVATION; HE IS MY FORTRESS, I WILL NEVER BE SHAKEN."

PSALM 62:1-2

I PRAY THE LORD'S REFRESHMENT IN YOUR LIFE TODAY, AND FOR AN INNER FORECAST OF 75 DEGREES AND SUNNY WITH A SLIGHT BREEZE.