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PROGRAM D-7352
As Fran arrives home this Tuesday evening, she is tired. Her life has been very busy, as it always is for a single mom with two school-aged children. Since her husband’s untimely death a few years ago, she’s tried to be mom and dad to the kids, hold down a busy job, continue her commitments to her church and keep some semblance of a social life going with friends and family.
She walks into the house with the kids and immediately they begin with When’s dinner going to be ready? I’m hungry? What are we having? I don’t like meatloaf! Where’s my notebook? I can’t do this homework! And all the other things that they turn to Fran for on a regular basis. Normally she handles it without a hitch, but tonight she’s so tired that her reaction is rather abrupt.
“Drew, how many times have I asked you to just give me a few minutes to myself when we get home and then I’ll answer all your questions,” Fran says to her nine year old son.
“Gee, Mom, what’s the matter?” Drew looks at her with injured eyes.
Fran feels guilty. “Nothing, Drew, I’m just tired, that’s all; just give me a minute, okay?”
“Mommy,” Alice walks in the kitchen, “I didn’t have a good day today because Jimmy made fun of my hair again. He called me carrot-top and that made me so mad and Mrs. Nelson didn’t say a thing to him. And I’m going to hit him next time he says that to me. . .”
“Alice,” Fran says, “I told you not to pay any attention to Jimmy. You’ve got to learn how to deal with Jimmy, Alice.”
Alice’s face drops and she walks glumly out of the room. “Fran,” Jesus says quietly to her, “did you really want to say that to Alice?”
Fran feels guilty again. “Oh, Lord, I’m sorry; I’m just so tired. . .”
“I know, but you can’t allow that to create a problem with your kids,” He says. “Why don’t you let me help you when you’re tired?”
Fran looks as though this is something she never thought of before. Jesus continues, “You haven’t even asked me to help you; I can, you know.”
Fran shakes her head. “I’m so sorry, Lord. Please, please help me. If you can just get me through the next two hours until I have the kids in bed, then I can collapse and get some rest. Please, Lord, help.”
“I’ll be glad to,” Jesus says. And with that, Fran gets dinner ready, apologizes to the kids, helps them with homework, counsels Alice about Jimmy, and says their prayers with them as she tucks them in bed. Then indeed, she collapses into bed for some much needed sleep herself.