Sunday, September 7, 2008

Tired

Tonight I am tired. Life is hardest when we are tired. We all feel it at some point. It is just a matter of what we are tired of that differs. Some are tired of feeling sick. Some are tired of fighting addictions, or temptations, or depression. Some are tired of being pregnant, or climbed on, or pooped on, or spit up on. Some are tired of feeling lonely. Some are tired of having to get up every day and work all day to provide for their families. Our trials differ but sometimes each of us gets tired of bearing our personal cross.

Tonight I am tired. I am tired of not having to keep my voice down at night putting the girls to bed because there is no sleeping baby. I am tired of waking up to silence. I am tired of trying to keep my mind firm and positive. I am tired of people worrying about me. I am tired of worrying about myself. I am just tired. 

Jonathan just asked me what I was posting about. I told him I was posting about being tired. He said that was not a good thing to post about. He said I should post about my "dh." He said posting about my "dh" and how cute he is would be much more interesting. My self proclaimed "designated hitter" is right. 

We all get tired but we cannot, we must not give up the good fight. We must take up our cross and fight onward. The stakes are just too high. The alternative is too bleak. Heaven watches us most closely when we are tired. It is the crucial point in the game that defines us as players. What do we do when we are tired? Do we give up or do we call for help and carry on. These tired times are defining moments. 

Tonight I am going to follow the advice of my "dh" and tell you all I love that man. It is he who can make me smile through my tears. It is he who helps me bear my cross despite the weight of his own. I love that man. He is an example of strength and endurance to me. Now I am going to follow his example and his cute behind and head up to bed.

33 comments:

Jeanette said...

Your post makes total sense to me.

I get tired too and it's when I am tired that I am at my weakest and things drag me down.

I am glad you have your sweet husband there to lift you and help you on. It's a true blessing to have someone who is willing to help bear the burden.

Anonymous said...

Unfortunately, the rest of us "out here" can't vouch for his cute behind.....but CAN vouch for his humour.

Love to you

Jane

Ruthie said...

I am tired tonight. Exhausted: and the sheer unendingness of it all was beginning to make me feel grumpy. Until I read your post. Thank you so much for your wonderful perspective. I often contemplate how Jesus, after all he had suffered in Gethsemane, was still able to reach out and heal the soldier's ear. Too often being tired or sick is my excuse for not being nice. I really need to try harder.
Hope you feel rested tomorrow.

Bingham Bunch said...

I think being tired is a good thing....shows we have been giving our ALL. The winner of the race is tired, the warrior after the battle is tired, the Savior was tired (so much so that his disciples tried to send the little ones away to allow him to rest). Rest up and get back at it....like you said, it's hardest when we are tired yet endurance increases when we push through that fatigue. I believe that is what you will choose to do ;o).

Anonymous said...

I've felt tired lately as well and thinking about things regarding my life. Your post put things into prospective for me. I am so grateful for the knowledge that I have that if we do our all, the Savior will step in and carry us and our cross. I'm so grateful for the atonement and what the Savior has done for us. I believe that if we are tired we have done all that we can and need to allow the Savior to step in.
Thanks, Stephanie for your posts. You are so amazing!

Camille said...

oooo I loved loved loved this post. Thank you SOOO much.

Jules said...

This post really hit me today. I read your posts everyday- but today I am tired too. But for a different reason. I am tired BECAUSE I was up with a baby all night. And I am lucky. I am lucky that I am tired because of that. I will not fret and be sad all day because I am tired. Thanks to you- I will be happy that I have a reason to be tired and I will pray for you that you will be able to find a way out of your tired-ness. I loved what you said about your DH. So cute-- husbands are so wonderful... most of the time! :) Thank you again for the perspective... prayers to you.

MelancholySmile said...

Designated Hitter. Dear Husband. Definitely Hot. Glad you have one. :)

Jonathan Waite said...

oooo -- tmi about the behind.

EMILY said...

I am tired today too. tired of many things i deal with everyday. tired of stress. tired of kids who disobey. tired of feeling like my efforts make no difference. tired of a body that does not perform the way i want. life is really hard. i am glad i am not the only one who is tired. i love you. em

Rachel said...

This reminds me of a quote I believe I found on your blog, the one where Sherri Dew says that God DOES give us more than we can handle on our own. We need Him and we need other people to help us through. My husband has always been my strongest support, I'm so glad that you're blessed with a good husband, so you can help each other through this.
Rachel Merrill

Molly Bice-Jackson said...

Thank you, Stephanie. I am also tired of waking up to silence and wondering how I am going to get through another day...and I too am so grateful that I have Vic to help me. What would we do without these great men??????? I feel so blessed. Thank you for these wonderful thoughts. I needed this today.

Jennie said...

Stephanie Thank you for your message today. I have been feeling very 'tired' myself lately, and love the perspective that you gave to me. You are enduring well, and helping countless others in the process. Thank you.

Patti said...

No kidding! I just want to copy and paste your post to my blog. It is perfect. And I feel the same. (I love your blog -- I heard about it through my husband's cousin's family, etc.) Your blog is so right on. Thanks for doing it. -Patti Greenwood in Arlington, Texas

Anonymous said...

I too, am tired, but unlike, I have no dh....

Stephanie Waite said...

Dear Anonymous,
You don't need a dh. I have had tired days lots with no dh. We all have Christ. Pray. That is the call for help heaven is waiting to see if you will make.

Stephanie

Alisa said...

I felt "tired" a week ago Sunday. It was my b-day and didn't turn out great. Like most Sundays, it was extremely hectic. My calling in the Primary is very tiring, even on good days. But that day was even worse. I left Primary with feelings of inadequacy and tears in my eyes, wondering if it was at all worth it. Thanks to a few phone calls and visits from friends, ended the day right-side up (but still tired). You're very lucky to have your DH!

Katie Webb said...

Hi, I stumbled onto your blog last night and, in 4 hours, read every single post on it. I want you to know what an amazing example you, a stranger, have been to me. I am currently playing the role of both father and mother to my 9 month old daughter, and struggle with my short temper and lack of patience. I have taken notes from your blog and have made a promise to myself and the Lord that I will try harder to cherish my baby and work on strengthening my weaknesses. Thank you for your willingness to share your experiences with the world. You and your daughter have blessed the lives of so many people. I hope you don't mind, I posted my thoughts and feelings about your story on my blog and included a link. Thanks again. My heart and my prayers go out to you and your family.

Anonymous said...

I appreciate your ability to express your thoughts and the thoughts of others so well. My dh has been such a life saver for the last thirty years. He has hung in there so many times, when my legs just couldn't hold me up any longer, he has been there. I know he was hanging on many times and still would not let me down. Though the tables have turned from time to time, he has been my rock.

I also enjoy "following my my priesthood leader". (giggle) Don't tell him his secret is out!

Amber said...

You don't know me, but I read your blog often, and you are amazing! I am often in tears, and very uplifted after reading your entries. Thank you so much!

Mimi's Toes said...

Oh Stephanie, thank you again for ministering to me when I so need it. That's just how I have been feeling...Tired, but we do press on. Thank you for pointing out this special message, and I too have a wonderful hubby that lifts me up.

Brimaca said...

Oy yes. Sometimes I'm tired too.

Stephens 8 said...

As you should. Your right we all get soooo tired, and your right thats when our attitude and actions really start to count...that's when we are tested the most..you are right. Thanks for your knowledge and insight.

Melissa-Mc said...

As I read this post, I kept thinking of the Savior saying "come unto me all ye that are heavy laden and I will give you rest."

How would we get through all our trials and weariness without Him and our knowledge of Him.

Thank you for reminding me where to go when I feel tired.

chanel said...

thanks for the permission to be tired, but not the permission to quit. what great advice. everything is more poignent coming from you, and i so appreciate your honesty.

glad too for your eternal companion, he's very special.

Anonymous said...

Holy smokes, I never knew "dh" was a general abbreviation. I always thought that was the initials for a commenter's husband's real name. Thank you for clearing that up for me! :) And I'm so glad you have a "dh" who is such a stalwart of strength for you. I don't know how I would have gotten through my miscarriage without my husband.

Katie said...

Dear Stephanie...I found your blog today, and have been reading it for the last two hours...I hope that your journey will be less painful as time goes on...I will be a better mother because of your story...I will appreciate my kids more than I have before, and I will treasure them every moment. Thank you, thank you, thank you, for all you have shared...Sincerely, Katie

Erica said...

I really enjoyed this post. You are honest but yet have so much positivity. I really admire you.

Carrie said...

Stephanie, I have been reading your blog for sometime, and though I always enjoy your insights and posts, this post I know was for me. Yes, my trial is so very different than yours, but it is still MY trial and I am SO VERY TIRED. I wanted to give up today...literally...I thought "this is ridiculous, why do I even try". I read your post tonight and cried. Thank you so very much. I have no idea how you bear your cross and do it in such a way to uplift and inspire me and so many others. Thank you again and God Bless.

Lewieville said...

Thank you... more than I can express, thank you!

Kass said...

Is there such a thing as a continuous Thank you note? If so, I would send one to you. Thank you for sharing your heart so openly. Thank you for always finding ways to inspire me & many others to be better amidst your healing & exhaustion. I've had some events over the past few years that have made me extremely tired. (I've commented previously-my family was at Aspen Grove the week your fam was, I lost my 6 mo. old son almost 3 yrs. ago, & now a little financial stress) During some weaker moments I've felt like maybe I'm not cut out for these trials. Thank you for the reminder to step it up as these are the times when it matters the most. I'm also glad you have such great husband. You seem to be the perfect combination :) Wish we lived closer so we could be in a "support group," but I guess that is what the blogging world is all about. Thanks Again!

PNRBAC said...

You don't know me - I found your blog through my friend Janet. Thank you for this post. The part where you said, "Heaven watches us most closely when we are tired. It is the crucial point in the game that defines us as players." That was just what I needed. That was inspired. Thank you.

Maggie May said...

I found your blog accidentally. I am a voracious reader, have been my entire life. I read everything, very well read. And this little post here of yours is one of the most inspirational groupings of words I have ever read. I am strengthened by reading this. Thank you so much for sharing during so much pain.