If you’re a woman in your 30s or 40s, I’m sure you’ve heard other ladies talking about NBC’s hit show, This is Us. I was slow to get on the This is Us bandwagon because I’m not a big fan of emotional shows. But this one is worth the time, because it’s teaching me things about myself.
Like how Randall and I are two birds of a feather, as they say. Randall is dealing with a lot right now. His long-lost, now-found dad is dying of cancer. He just found out that his adopted mom knew who his dad was and didn’t tell him. He feels threatened at work because this new guy has risen through the ranks and is taking some of his clients. His brother, who he’s never been close to, decided to move in with his family for a little while. Then on top of all that, he has the everyday to dos like attending his kids’ activities, finding alone time with his wife and making time for his daily run.
My life feels a lot like Randall’s right now, except not as dramatic. We bought a new house and moved in a month ago. I’m trying to grow my marketing business this year and taking a course so I can add some new services. I’ve been working on this blog- writing posts, posting on Facebook and getting a plan together for where it’s going. I am a stay-at-home-mom and spend a lot of my day with a 2-year-old busy toddler. I am working on a lot of personal goals right now, like eating healthier, getting connected at church and really following a budget.
MINI SPOILER ALERT (so skip if you haven’t seen the 2/15 episode):
It’s safe to say I understand a little about how Randall feels. After a while, it starts to feel like you are always carrying this extra weight around. And if you don’t address it quickly, you end up on the floor of your office in tears, unable to function any more.
The real problem isn’t that Randall and I have too much on our plates. The real problem is that we’re trying to be God.
You may be thinking, “Whoa, that’s a stretch.” But let’s think about it a little more.
- Randall is trying to be there for everyone at all times.
“Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you.” – Deuteronomy 31:8 - He wants to be strong and capable in everyone’s eyes.
“The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety.” – Psalm 18:2 - He wants to take care of everyone.
“And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 4:19 - He needs to do everything perfectly.
“As for God, his way is perfect: The LORD’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him.” – Psalm 18:30 - He tries to handle it all alone.
“Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own.” – Proverbs 3:5 The Message - He tries to repress his emotions and keep them bottled up.
“You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book.” – Psalm 56:8
I can sympathize, and whether Randall knows it or not, we are both carrying way more than we were made to carry. And truthfully, we do it because we don’t trust God enough to give all our burdens to Him.
So I’m not sure what the writers are planning to do about poor Randall, but I’m going to get on my knees.
