There was a season when I could not bear to be away from my children, and was paralyzed each time they left to spend the weekend with Dad. I'd sit motionless on the sofa or in bed and think about them. Sometimes I wouldn't get dressed. Sometimes I would stay at home the entire weekend.
I told a friend about my battle and she said "I went through that when my husband and I were having problems...so I went out and volunteered in a retirement home."
Open to all suggestions, I did it. The time I spent outside myself was not in a retirement home, it was with kids at church. Not my specialty. They did not care. After a couple days I did not care. It was fun being with someone else's kids and giving my all.
That was organized, an easy way to fit into a planned schedule the church had going.
How do I volunteer now? How do I get outside myself and give now? I keep my eyes and ears open for every opportunity. I understand it may not be for a church or another organized entity. It could look like last week: one night; made extra dinner for a friend: another night; babysat a friend's children. It is opening my ears for opportunity, checking my new work and daycare schedule and then offering my time and energy even if I don't feel like it.
Even if I don't feel like it.
