Whelmed

"I know you can be overwhelmed, and you can be underwhelmed, but can you ever just be whelmed?"
                                                                                     -Chastity in the movie 10 Things I Hate About You



I have found myself overwhelmed by a number of things.  On any given day I am overwhelmed by the number of blogs I follow and the ones I want to follow, but can't possibly read that many.  Overwhelmed by my toddler's energy and overall craziness.  Overwhelmed by my husband's uncanny ability to say the dumbest things at the worst times.  Overwhelmed by the number of questions that my 2nd graders ask me that I have already answered. more.than.once.  Overwhelmed by the stack of grades I have to put into the gradebook.  Overwhelmed by the snail-like speed of my computer when entering said grades.  Overwhelmed by housework even though I don't really do housework.  Overwhelmed by the crafts I want to do, books I want to read, places I want to visit, things I want to learn, but don't because I'm tired, lazy, or out of time. Overwhelmed by the list of things that overwhelm me.

But, I can't say that I have ever been overwhelmed by Christ's love.  I would say that I'm just whelmed.  Not over-, not under-, just whelmed.  I acknowledge this great thing that God has done for me.  I'm pretty amazed by it, but in all honesty not amazed enough.  He DIED for me.  That is so big that I can't even wrap my mind around it.  How can I not be overwhelmed by this unconditional, unabashed, unnatural, but very real love?  And, what can I do to feel overwhelmed by the greatest love in the world?  Serve others unselfishly?  Love others more freely?  Give more generously?  I imagine that when I am overwhelmed in doing more for Him, I will be overwhelmed by Him.

I want to be underwhelmed by more of the world while becoming overwhelmed by God's unending love and abounding grace for me.

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.  (Romans 5:8)