Growing up we had a cookie jar that sat on the top of our refrigerator. This jar was a ceramic bear with a big tummy and a face of contentment. He looked like a happy bear in a patch of grass while sitting next to his favorite honeycomb.
Over the years, that cookie jar got knocked around. The constant lifting of that lid and the filling of the jar caused bumps and bruises on the bears body. As we would rub our hand over his plump belly, we could feel the cracks. But no matter how cracked our cookie jar was, it always held the sweet treats that we loved as children.
Throughout scripture it talks about “cookie jars.” These jars, too, are filled with cracks and chips just like my childhood cookie jar. In the Bible, these jars are referred to as jars of clay. The scripture refers to these jars as a representation of our lives. Clay jars are made from a potter, a creator.
In Jeremiah 18:6 it says,
“…As the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand.”
How many times throughout the course of just one day do you say that phrase either under your breath or out loud?
I’m sick and tired of my job…
I’m sick and tired of my kids…
I’m sick and tired of my spouse…
I’m sick and tired of this world.
I am just sick and tired!
So many times, in life we feel as though we simply cannot take another step. We have come to the end of our road and the only thing that we have energy to do is to collapse whether that is on the couch or in our bed. We have spent every ounce of our energy and have even borrowed from our own reserves. If one more person asks us for our help or says that they need us, God help that person because this girl is about to blow and it “ain’t gonna be pretty.”
What do we do when we get like this?
If you are anything like me, and God help you if you are, you first throw out a warning those around you. You warn them to stay away…stay far, far away! That way it is no longer your responsibility if they get too close and you blow. It’s on them!
Next, you long for the nighttime darkness to show up so you can send everyone to bed, including yourself. And…dang those long summer days!
Finally, you get to crawl into bed. And girls, we all know that we pray to God this isn’t the night that our husband wants to be intimate. Have you ever heard the phrase “Just fake it til you make it”? Well, let’s just say this isn’t the time to implement this…let’s just be honest!
As you lay your head on your pillow, you say a quick prayer to God because let’s face it, you have no spiritual energy left either. You ask God to make tomorrow better. Then you fall asleep.
When the sun rises the next morning, you escape from under your covers with a renewed energy to face the day…NOT!
You are just as exhausted as when you laid your head down the night before.
“God, what am I going to do. I can’t face this day…I really can’t. There is nothing left in me.”
God said to Abram…“Go, walk through the length and breadth of the land, for I am giving it to you.” Genesis 13:17 NIV
Recently I called a friend and asked her to go for a walk. No agenda…just a walk! An opportunity to get some fresh air and good conversation. Unfortunately, we couldn’t go that day, but later she shared with me that the invitation to walk meant a lot to her. She said that she felt blessed to be asked to walk; to be connected as friends and to enjoy the company of one another.
What happens in those moments as we walk with a friend?
THE WALK 