Opportunity Lost

***Edited to add***
I have become aware that there are a number of people who have concerns with the novel, The Shack. I am citing it in this post to give credit for the quote I read - not because I hold this novel in the same esteem as the Word of God. Don't worry!
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I finally had a break in my list of things To Do and told my children I was going into my room to read for a while.
On the surface I was trying to be a good model for them - you know reading a book, rather than spending time in front of the computer or some other electronic device. But the truth is, I needed a reprieve. Just needed to steal away from the noise for a few minutes to lower my blood pressure and anxiety level. And if I happened to set a good example for reading in the process, well, happy day.
So I slipped into my bedroom and flopped down on my bed with a copy of The Shack. And as I opened it up to chapter three, this is the quote I found waiting for me:

The soul is healed by being with children.
- Fyodor Dostoevsky

I did a double-take, and then nearly started to cry.
I thought, God, is this some kind of a joke??? For weeks I have had the ache in my soul to get away and be alone with YOU, without interruption, without being needed by another human being. Being with YOU is the healing I need.
But here is this guy saying it is being with children that heals the soul! O, LORD, I love my children. I would die for them. You know it! Why do I feel such a need to hide from them right now?

Have you been there? Need to get away, but the opportunities seem to be getting away faster than you can catch them?

* You may remember my disappointment a few weeks ago of not getting the retreat I had hoped for.
Opportunity lost.
* For the past four summers I have gone away for a couple of days to a Women of Faith conference. But this year, finances said NO.
Opportunity lost.
* My mother-in-law is taking the kids for a few days at the end of the month, and I thought maybe that could be my opportunity to get away. But my husband and I really need to spend time "alone" together and we are going to visit a bed and breakfast while the kids are with Grandma. I hate to admit that I struggled with wanting to not give up what I was considering another opportunity to be alone.
But to some extent that, too, seemed like another opportunity lost.
(Soooo hoping you won't misread my love and respect for my husband by that last statement.)
* Kathy Troccoli is going to be in concert in Michigan in August and I thought perhaps I could take a day to myself and finish it up at the concert. Granted, August feels like it's a long way off, but I would have something for which to look forward. However, when I checked the calendar I saw that Brian and I already committed to attending a wedding that day.
Opportunity lost, again. *heavy sigh*

So there I sat - fresh out of hope that I am ever going to have an opportunity to get away by myself. Staring at the words, The soul is healed by being with children. Wondering what on earth God was trying to say to my very weary, someone-get-me-out-of-here, I'm-on-the-verge-of-tears soul.

Not that I want to leave you on a low note, but I sat with these feelings for a while, so why shouldn't you??? LOL
I'm bad.
Come back tomorrow and I'll let you in on what I think God was trying to say.