Imagine for a second a paper plate. Not one of those thin, cheap, crumbles-with-the-weight-of-a-sandwich plates, but a sturdy, durable, dependable for the most part, Dixie plates. Now, can you imagine trying to make even a Dixie plate hold a Thanksgiving-capacity meal, spooning pile after pile of steaming potatoes, gooey gravy, meats of every kind, green beans casserole, salad just for kicks, and topping it off with a few roles and slabs of butter. Even if you carry it with both hands doubled up under the plate for support and walked slowly to the table, the poor plate will still eventually spill over, cave in, or worse yet completely topple over, wasting the entirety of its delectable, scrumptious contents. Bummer...
How many of us get so worn out, exhausted, and just plain ol' run down to the point of absolutely crumbling like that Thanksgiving plate? We've all had that feeling at one time or another when we wonder where we will muster up enough strength to complete the next task. Our life's metaphorical plates get so full with relationship concerns, careers, family stress, finances, community obligations, etc. that even if we can compare ourselves to a Dixie and feel strong, durable, and capable, we have our limit and we can cave in or just crumple under the weight if we are overloaded.
Take a moment and evaluate your life on a plate. Do you feel your knees buckling and afraid that at any moment you'll drop it? What's on your plate, and can you afford to take a spoon full or two of some of the extra stressors off- take a break from your volunteer obligations, try saying no the next time your child's teacher asks you to supply the class with holiday cookies, or ask your husband/wife/friend to take on a few of your daily chores for awhile. Even if your plate is a Dixie, it still has its limits.
