There is much talk these days about how we choose to spend our
time – with whom, doing what, in which location? Are we filling our days with mundane
responsibilities and leaving little time for just ‘being,’ and are our souls
suffering for it? Do we lack the ability
to relax, to be quiet and still, to say “no” when bombarded with life’s
frequent requests?
Am I overcommitted, overscheduled, over the top crazy as I attempt
to manage the dolling out of my time, talents, and treasures?
Yes.
Of course.
Absolutely.
No doubt about it.
I need to add the word “no” to my vocabulary more often, like most
of the moms I know. I need more quiet,
more stillness, more relaxation in my life, like most of the people I
know. I need to realize when I’m
exhausted from the constant striving to get it all done, the pushing to fit it
all in, the rushing around at a frantic pace because somehow, that’s become my
most consistent mode of existence.
My children have a day off school next week for fall break. We were planning to spend the long weekend at
the lake. Just the four of us, in one of
my favorite places on earth, in my favorite season of the year. Boat rides wrapped in blankets, smores by the
firepit, a completely empty calendar, inbox, to-do list. Three full days of the quiet, stillness, and
relaxation my soul has been craving. In
short, my idea of pure bliss.
And then, we got a call from some very spontaneous, very generous
grandparents. They had other ideas about
our fall break, and those ideas didn’t involve quiet. They didn’t involve stillness or relaxation
or anything at all my soul has been craving.
In fact, they involved just the things my soul dreads. Airplanes, hotel rooms, lines, public
bathrooms. And a very famous mouse by
the name of Mickey.
The first thing that came to my mind was one simple word . . . no.
I wanted smores, not Space
Mountain, I thought, as all sense of gratitude eluded me.
Sometimes, you need to say “no.”
But sometimes, an unexpected offer comes along. It might be an invitation from a friend, or a
request from a teacher, or a gentle nudge from a pastor encouraging you to try
something new. It might even be a revelation
from God – one you know is going to bring choices and challenges you aren’t
sure you can handle, and you’re confused and scared and angry and you wish He
wasn’t making the path so clear.
Sometimes, the unexpected offer comes from people you love. It’s no revelation, just a simple request, and it means a change
of plans. It means you must wait a
little while longer for what your soul craves, because you know that in the waiting,
there will be great joy. There will also
be roller coasters, increased anxiety, very little sleep, and a whole lot of germs. But more importantly, there will be the anticipation of a secret to share, the moment the surprise is revealed, the enormous grins
on their faces, and the certainty that comes from knowing . . .
Sometimes, you gotta say YES!!!
Disney World, here we come!
