A Word to a Tired Woman
 
Hope Ledyard

     I know that the Congregationalist will be opened during these summer months, on many a doorstep or porch, by many a tired housewife who longs to find a word for her in its pages. She is glad to learn new ideas as to sweeping or cleaning windows, and cuts out the recipes, yet -- she is looking for something else. She is weak -- how can she get strength? She is discouraged and down hearted -- is there any relief?

     Now, to just this tired, jaded woman I would speak a word; or rather, I hope God will take my word and repeat it over to her Himself.

     What all who are tired and discouraged need is to really believe in God. "In Him we live and move and have our being." He has perfect strength, and He has said, "In Me is thy strength." Try to read this verse as a new word, spoken to you by the One who holds you continually, and loves you better than you can conceive.

     "The everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary. He giveth power to the faint, and to them that have no might He increaseth strength. . . . They that wait on the Lord shall renew their strength . . . they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk, and not faint."

     Keep, then, close to this Strong One, and find real rest in the midst of your busiest work. While you prepare food for the bodies of those about you, do not neglect to feed your own soul; and if you only get strong by living near to the loving Father, you can't help imparting strength to some one else, for the God in you will influence those about you.

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Note

This piece appeared in The Congregationalist, August 6, 1883, p. 278.
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