Too many irons in the fire

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28

Too many irons in the fire means there is more to be done than can be accomplished. This idiom derives from the blacksmith who works with iron and has so many pieces in the fire he risks ruining them in the forging process.

The other day I ended up keeping four of our grandchildren at one time. Typically this wouldn’t have been a big deal, but one is an infant and I had forgotten how often they eat, how long it takes, and how many diapers they go through. Fortunately the other three played well but I was busy to say the least.

I pride myself in being a multitasker but spreading myself too thin will inevitably lead to failure. There is only so much you can do at one time. Prioritizing is imperative if we don’t want to get burnt out and over stressed. Grandma always said, “Don’t worry about that dust bunny under the couch, it’ll be there tomorrow, you just focus on those children while they're young.” Her statement is so true except I always had a hard time going to sleep if I didn’t have my house in order.

I know especially for mothers with young children, there is constantly something to do or someone needing something. But we can still find rest when we carve out a little time with the Lord. In those quiet moments He can restore and refresh our spirits so we are equipped to face the harsh reality once more. Our joy is complete when He is the source of our joy. Psalm 4:8 is a beautiful promise, “I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O Lord, make me swell in safety.”

When we feel like we have too many irons in the fire it’s okay for us to leave something for later and focus on the important stuff. Many women are overachievers and try to be the perfect image of what they think perfection is but all that matters is the love laid on those children. I love the promise in Matthew 11:28, “Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”