Pressure by Susan L.

  I watch the ads on TV that portray women who race home from work, take care of the kids by helping them with homework or baking Pillsbury cookies while she makes a full, nutritious dinner before tossing them into the Ford van to take them and all the other kids in the neighbourhood to hockey practice. These women keep a spotless home thanks to Dyson and Swiffer, make homemade Christmas cards and decorate the house according to the latest home décor guru. They go to the gym or yoga, fold laundry washed in Tide and scented with long lasting Downy fabric softener, yet still find time (and money I might add) to shop with their friends. Whew!! I am exhausted just watching the thirty second glimpse into life impossible! Oh, they also take the time while grocery shopping to look at Blue Buffalo pet food labels to make sure Mr. Wiggles gets only the best.
  It's everywhere we look.
  Like the cough syrup ad that emphasises moms don't take sick days.
  I am in the process of watching an old, black and white movie from the late thirties, "Made For Each Other". I love James Stewart with his goofy, bumbling sincerity. The stay-at-home mom has hired help to maintain a small apartment and help with the baby while the dad goes off to work. (The maid who wouldn't wash diapers was fired.) I smile at her perfect makeup, even in the middle of the night!
  When did we evolve to become wonder women? Yet, there's pressure on men, too. James, in the movie, struggles with his inability to provide the best for his family and weeps at the growing debt. A sign of his inadequacies. This was in the era before credit cards were successfully marketed and debt became a part of life. That's a whole other post!
  There's pressure to perform on all of us. Assembly line education, assembly line jobs, assembly line retirement build the box of supposed to be's. Perhaps it isn't performing but believing we need to conform that shreds our confidence and our identity in Christ.
  So we get sick. Anxiety, addictions, mental health struggles, heart disease, high blood pressure are what challenge us as we try and fit a square peg in a round hole.
  Lord, help me be a round peg. Help me find the place and space where I fit. Help me embrace the identity and plans You have for my life. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
  "Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tender hearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing." 1 Pet 3:8-9