the playground of life

I woke up this morning feeling exhausted. Not physically, but mentally. I feel like a kid who's been running around on the playground all day long. Literally out of breath from constantly racing from one thing to the next.

Currently, I'm on the seesaw. Worn out from the seemingly endless ups and downs of life that threaten to overwhelm me on a regular basis. One minute I'm up and for a second everything's good then it's right back down I go, and there's no break in between. I'm right smack dab in the middle of a constant battle. The struggle to rise up after I've fallen only to be brought back down again, momentarily. I'm struggling to find that balance. Between the highs and the lows. Between the good and the bad. Where I can just be even if for just a brief point in time.
*see·saw- change rapidly and repeatedly from one position, situation, or condition to another and back again;

Now I'm on to the merry go round. I get on (at my own risk) and it starts moving. It seems fun and exciting, at first, exhilarating even. Then, before I even realize what's happening it's spinning out of control, I feel like I am going to be sick, and all I want to do is bail. Getting off, however, is much more challenging than it was just to step on like I did to begin with. Now, it's going full speed and my only exit option is to close my eyes, and jump off. Praying that I land in a nice soft spot in the dirt and that I can walk away without any serious injuries.
*merry go round- a never-ending cycle of activities and events (especially when they seem to have little purpose)

Next is the swing. Probably the most pleasant thing there is to do at the park. It's where everyone wants to be so there's usually a line of people, waiting for their turn. You're just swaying along, the wind in your hair, without a care in the world. You got a nice supportive seat under you and two strong chains to hold on to. And the best part, you're in control. It's completely up to you how fast or high you go and how long you stay on. When it slows down you just start pumping your legs until you've reached the place you want to be at. Then at any given moment, you can just stick your foot down to stop it and hop off.

The jungle gym is what's left. Also, so creatively, known as the climbing structure. You start at the bottom and you work your way up. The higher you climb, the bigger the risk. You climb anyways, though, because it's worth it. The satisfaction of reaching the top far outweighs the potential risk of falling. Once you finally get all the way up there, no matter how many tries it took, or how many times you talked yourself out of it and carefully climbed back down in fear: You made it now, so you just sit there and take it all in. Now you are able to see everything from a new perspective and as you look down from above you are proud of what you've accomplished.

Life may not always be as it seems it should. We may get skipped when we feel like it's supposed to be our turn on the easygoing swing of serenity. We may be sick and tired of the non-stop teeter totter of emotions constantly going back and fourth in our minds. What we need to realize, though, is that life, this playground we've been given the opportunity to experience, it only happens once. We need to make the best of it and do the best with what we've got. We need to make time for what's important and not sweat the small stuff. We need to realize that God placed each and every one of us here, created us, for a specific purpose. So whether we are enjoying our current situation or not we've got to keep putting one foot in front of the other. We've got to play on.

1 Timothy 6:12

Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

Deuteronomy 30:19-20

19 This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live 20 and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.