It’s been an overwhelmingly busy summer, as most of us who live on Cape Cod come to expect. But this summer was busier than usual, with eight straight weeks of company, including an all-time weekly record of 24 houseguests at the same time! And I think I did remarkably well. In years past, I normally would have hyperventilated and asked to be put on tranquilizers. When I’ve been overwhelmed before, it usually was because I tried to do everything for everyone, including keeping my normally neat home in order. But that never worked. And I wound up being in a tizzy.

This year, I gave everything to the Lord. I focused on how blessed I was to have so many precious family members in my home. I put a chart up on the refrigerator so everyone would know which meals they were responsible for. With 24 houseguests, it was a fabulous system to have. At the end of the summer when everyone left, I stood looking around at my home, that now was a mini-disaster zone. Clothes were left behind, laundry was piled high… but as I looked around, all I saw were the smiling faces everywhere… the children having fun… the hugs… the laughter… the love. God truly had me focus on what really mattered.

Then the Lord clearly directed me to go to the attic and bring down my old Easter basket that I had as a child. As I looked at it, I thought, “I’m going to have an Easter egg hunt.” I’ll look at all the treasures left behind… from odd socks to bathing suits and even a Harry Potter wand .. and I’ll make a game of it. And, along the way, if I find treasures of mine that somehow got misplaced, they will be the golden eggs for my Easter basket. It reminds me of the Resurrection. Just as Jesus died and rose for all of us, so, too, night falls and a new day rises; grain is sown and the Lord helps it rise again. We, too, can rise above life’s overwhelming moments if we lean on Jesus. So, if you’re facing difficult situations that may tend to overwhelm you, try making a trip up to your attic and blowing the dust off your Easter basket. I promise it may help you more than you think.