I grew up in Moldova. After the walls of “Soviet Jericho” came down we had lots of foreigners passing through our home. As we often enjoyed the company of Englishmen, they knew better than to travel without tea in former USSR. English people take their tea time seriously. Moldovans take their tea bags seriously.
When we would sit down with our guests for tea, we would diligently use the tea bag until its life purpose was fully fulfilled. That poor tea bag was jumping from cup to cup until it was completely anaemic in color and drained of its power. About seven cups later, that tea bag had seen better days; worn out and drained…. it became good for nothing.
Often, we jump from activity to activity like that tea bag from cup to cup, trying to please each drinker. At the end of the day, week, or year we end up becoming a worn out, drained teabag, good-for-nothing.
Sure, a tea bag is meant to deal with one cup, at least in more western countries, but a person is meant to deal with many cups of responsibilities like the one of being a daughter, a sister, a friend, a coworker, a neighbor, an aunt … possibly a wife, a mother, and a grandmother (Men you do the math for your case. In a week is Mother’s Day in some countries. I’m making it easy for us.)
Symptoms of a worn out tea bag
When you are sick and go to the doctor, first thing the doctor wants to know is what your symptoms are (well, nowadays it’s your insurance info). In order to figure out the problem of the drained teabag we need to look at some possible symptoms.
- you lose your temper over little things
- you have a sense of not caring anymore
- your health is deteriorating
- you overeat, or forget to eat
- you always feel exhausted
- your family relationships are becoming tense
- your friends are ignored
- the sunshine doesn’t energize you anymore (the rain in my case)
- you put spending time with God on the back burner
- your prayer life is anaemic
- nothing gets you out of bed (except maybe a three year old)
Are you tired of being a drained tea bag to your spouse, your kids, your friends?
Stop being perfect at everything. (I’m really talking to myself here.) “I say to the Lord, ‘You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.’ ” Psalm 16:2
Start giving yourself grace when life seems messy. (My husband is talking to me here.) ” ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” 2 Corinthians 12:9
Sometime ago my husband showed me a Facebook post that I needed to see. I didn’t save it. But, this is my version.
When you have mess in the home, this is what it really means:
A pile of laundry. The family was dressed.
A sink full of dishes. The family was fed.
A bunch of toys laying around. Kids had fun.
Kids pictures everywhere. Encouraging creativity.
Loud singing. Musicians in progress.
P. S.
If you’re okay with a little mess, feel free to stop by anytime.
If you want a spotless home. Please make an appointment.
If you come to judge, let’s simply meet in town.
This is not intended for those who struggle with cleanliness to use as an excuse. But it’s intended for those that identify themselves as clean freaks, to learn to give themselves some grace, when things are not perfect. Life is messy, so do our homes get messy at times.
As my great friend Sandy told me yesterday morning. “We can get caught up in the doing that we forget to be who God created us to be; to love God, and to love one another.”
In the next article we’ll focus at very specific steps we can take to treat the drained teabag syndrome. Till then, here are some verses to really take to heart.
“I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:13
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6
Things I need to work on:
- Do I see some of these signs in my life?
- Can my spouse, my friend see some of these signs? Ask them. Don’t argue. Be a learner.
- Choose a verse, and get your mind and heart ready for some necessary changes.