“Our plates tend to get full quickly because we are trying to please everyone. We need to remember our own needs and the needs of the ones that are close to us. Sometimes we strive to fulfill the needs of others and overlook our own. Learning to say “No”, actually isn’t the end of the world.”
A two letter word, ‘NO’
There are times I just want to throw in the towel. Throw my hands up and say, " Forget it! What was I thinking? I know we all get frustrated from time to time. My issue is usually, as a mother and wife, I tend to bite off a bit more than I can chew. I remind myself that it is okay to just say, “No". Who would have ever imagined a little two letter word would be so crippling to women? This week, I stopped aiming to please everyone, and just said, “no”. It was tough, it really was. Guess what? It turned out okay!
My plate, as well as many other women’s plates, is overflowing, but somehow, we struggle telling people that need us, “no”. Just a quick tidbit about myself. I recently felt God leading me into the ministry. After laughing and trying to hide from all the arrows pointing in the direction He had created before me, He continued to find me and reel me back in. I gave in, I listened to His plans before submitting my plans of how I wanted my life to be.
Search me, God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting .” ~ Psalm 139: 23-24
So, I did what I do, I researched, analyzed, weighed out the pros and cons—and you know what? You don’t really have to waste any time doing that because God already has your best interest in mind. I jumped in head first in pursuing my Master’s Degree in Pastoral Counseling on top of being a mother, wife, and all the other hats, we women, have to wear.
But God
This week, I was feeling a bit overwhelmed. I was starting to become discouraged and questioning if I really was hearing God’s call, or if this was just some dream, I was having. As a stay at home mother, I always find
myself longing to belong. Feeling like I need to get out there and make a difference, but how? My plate is already overflowing.
But God. I realized the people I need to make the biggest difference in are right in front of me. Usually, they are the ones that are pulling me in every direction, yelling “Mommy” at least two thousand times a day. But, those little people who make me crazy from time to time, those are the ones I need to invest in and guide them the way Jesus would.
If you are longing to belong, take a minute to just look around you—may be the place you belong has been right in front of you this entire time you have been too busy searching.
Read also: Raising our children to worship God
