A Reflection Series for Mental Health Awareness Month
The Weight of Holding It All Together
Excerpt from Wine & Faith – 19 Days in Napa
Jill is lying in bed, reflecting on the support and encouragement she’s received from her friends.
I roll over, and my thoughts shift to Sandy, Amelia, Carla, and Suni. My friends. My support network.
I’m so grateful for Amelia and Sandy. They’ve listened with such compassion. Still, I feel guilty… Our conversations have been so lopsided. I’m doing all the talking—about my struggling marriage. They’re doing all the listening.
But it’s making a difference. Little by little, I’m starting to make sense of things.
I’m like a glass full of water. No more capacity. Not one more drop. I can barely keep myself together.
But I have faith. Faith that by talking more about this, I’ll find clarity. God, help me be patient.
Finally, I drift off to sleep.
Faith Reflection
Have you ever felt like you’re barely keeping it all together?
Throughout life, there are times when the illusion of being “put together” prevails. There’s often a silent expectation to wear a mask and manage it all with grace. An impossible task for anyone.
Jill’s reflection reminds us that it’s often not one huge burden but many small ones. And they can overfill our emotional cups. It’s the mental checklist. The laundry. The lunches. The forced smile you plaster on your face.
Then, there is guilt.
It creeps in.
The guilt of being the one always talking. The guilt of not asking about someone else’s day. The guilt of surviving but not thriving. It is that gnawing feeling in the pit of your stomach.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” — Matthew 11:28 (NIV)
In Wine and Faith, Jill learns you don’t need to wear a mask among friends. They love you for who you are and meet you there, where ever that is.
She discovers that real friends are there for you through thick and thin. Even if the relationship feels unbalanced. She pours out her soul – and realizes that’s okay.
Your friends see you. God sees you. And that is enough.
Haiku
Steady as a stone,
Friends anchor us in life’s storms,
Shielding us from harm.
Reflective Questions
What areas of your life feel emotionally maxed out?
Where are you pouring out more than you’re being filled?
What might it look like to receive support without guilt?
I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Please comment and “like” this post if you feel led to do so.
#MentalHealth #MentalHealthAwareness #Overwhelm #FeelingInvisible #EmotionalIsolation #WalkingOnEggshells #UnmetExpectations #Relationships #WineandFaith #NadiaCrane #thepaiseleyfrog #LifeJourney
I and Thou Reflections 