So I have been exhausted since completing my first expo two weeks ago. It was a lot of physical and emotional work that I was not expecting. I haven’t been that tired since I was sleep deprived after having a newborn and a 16 month old at the same. I was feeling pretty worn down thinking I had done so much, I needed a break or as much of a break as I could get with 2 kids, a husband, a business and a house to run. I rested for a couple days, then started tearing out flooring and moving furniture and got tired again.
I woke up bone tired and achy after a day of tearing out carpet and removing staples thinking I am done. Why am I doing so much? Why am I trying so hard?
Then my Grandmother Vanderpool came into my mind. I had just had a dream of being at her house, seeing a group of homeless looking people looking out over the woods, in awe of the natural beauty. At first I was trying to get rid of these people. Then I turned and realized what they were seeing. I had never appreciated the beauty of the woods, the fields. I had never appreciated what she created. She had many failures and obstacles to get close to her dream of providing both physical and spiritual food for the lost and hurting. She wanted to create a legacy for her children.
She was married at 16, divorced and a single mom in the early 1950’s with 8 children, took care of sickly parents for more than 20 years, remarried and gained 5 step children, had 2 more children and was homeless while 8 children were still at home before she and my grandfather were first tenant farmers and finally got a 104 acre dairy farm. My father still owns 10 acres of the original farm.
The dream has to be bigger than the excuse. If anyone was tired, she was tired. If anyone was worn out from caring for others, she was worn out. So I got back up and on my mission and so can you! Just because you take a break, doesn’t mean you are done. Keep going, the world needs you and your gifts. Want to take this conversation further? PM or email me.
