Family Matters: Living a balanced life

By Lucia Ferrara

As a wife, mother, sister daughter, etc., I play many roles every day. I refer to this as my “juggling act.” Are you a juggler, too? Jugglers need a fine sense of balance. How does one achieve such balance?

What does living a life of balance look like? Well, I am trying to figure it out every day! Honestly, this is something I struggle with, and I am not afraid to admit it.

Finding balance in life is hard, because we mothers are torn in so many different directions constantly. I know for myself that when the kids were younger, I wore so many different hats: cook, chauffeur, caregiver for the sick, laundress, housekeeper, gardener … not to mention wife, friend, sister, daughter, and Director of Hospitality at the Precious Blood Renewal Center! All those demands can throw someone off balance at any given time.

I ask myself how do I not fall or fall apart? I admit I have fallen many times, but I got right back up. Balancing our relationships, responsibilities and our emotions can be overwhelming at times but for God! God is where I find my rock, my balance, my stronghold, my fortress. When God reaches out to me with his steady hand and gives me rest, I cast all my worries and burdens on him. Relying on God gives me a sense of steadiness and balance. I encourage you to find your own focus and balance.

Living a life of balance looks different for everyone. I challenge you to evaluate yourself, your attitude, feelings, and issues in your life. That can be a daunting task, but we need to embrace it if we want change.

After your evaluations, you should root yourself in the Word, the word of God in the Bible. When we want to dive deeper spiritually, we need to read the word. In 2 Samuel 22:33-34, it says “God is my strong fortress, and he makes my way perfect. He makes me as surefooted as a deer, enabling me to stand on mountain heights.:

How powerful is that? The word fortress refers to a stronghold or a place of defense or protection. The Lord is my fortress, he gives me hope and strength when I cannot find balance or steadiness in life. How is God a fortress in your life?

Earlier I referred to all the roles I play during each day as my juggling act. Are you a juggler too? As jugglers, we require flexibility and focus. I challenge you to find your balance in whatever way that makes you feel hopeful and confident. Knowing what matters is huge! Creating a balanced life is not easy. Here are a few things I can share:

1. Focus on your spiritual life.
2. Be still — take a break.
3. Determine your own values and acknowledge your needs.
4. Create boundaries.

If you want to go more in-depth on finding your balance, consider joining me for a five-session bible study for women called “Finding Balance: Steadiness in God.” Each week, we will study a different aspect of balance and learn how relying on God can help us find more balance in life. the program is five Wednesday evenings starting May 29. We’ll be meeting at Precious Blood Renewal Center from 6:30-8 p.m.

All the articles in the Family Matters series are available here.

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[Lucia Ferrara is the Director of Hospitality at Precious Blood Renewal Center and the lead organizer here of Parent Cafes. Share your thoughts with Lucia or ask her questions by using the form below or sending an email to info@pbrenewalcenter.org. Read more about the Parent Café here.]