RELAX REFLECT RECHARGE

I am always so grateful for Sunday…even though I work now for part of the day and miss church, I am grateful that I have a relationship with God so that I can relax, reflect and recharge.  As I have been struggling to keep up (with the Jones, as we used to say) this week, I was reminded that I can’t do it all nor should I try.  I find that God always puts a story in my path that I can relate to so that I can grow and move on.  Here is the devotion that got me started “Why I No Long Cry Over Burnt Bread” today…

“If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.” 1 Peter 4:11 (NIV)

As we come to the month end with Thirty One, I find myself comparing what I have done to what others have accomplished this month.  I know to some I sound like a broken record.  My numbers are lower than they have been in over a year.  No new recruits on this AMAZING new incentive.  Just when the devil wants me to believe that “I am no good” or “I will not be a success”, God sends me a message.

The message came in the form of this devotion, a new Thirty One sister – Bobbi Trisko and a conversation with my hubby.  In a mentoring call with Bobbi, we talked about my goals and my why – things that I struggle with.  The words came out as an apology – that I was blessed because there is not an urgent need for my Thirty One income.  I struggle because of the comparison game.  My ultimate goal is for my hubby to to retire without the worry of finances.  Of course, anyone who knows him would say that this is probably not possible – I disagree.  I am a giver and as a giver, I want to give that gift to the man who has provided for Belinda and I for years.  I also love to help raise funds for groups or individuals to give them a hand up and to know that there are people who care about them.  It isn’t about me, it is about what I can give to others.

After that conversation, hubby and I went to Taylor Sam’s for lunch where I proceeded  to ask him about HIS dream.   I was not prepared for the answer.  His dream is “to make a difference in this world so that it is left in better shape for our children.”  Of course, that wasn’t the answer I was expecting so I began to dig deeper by asking more questions.  Okay, so did you get the part where I said, this wasn’t what I expected him to say.   To say the least, it was not the happy conversation that I EXPECTED it to be.

I know, where is this all leading right?  Believe it or not, we both have the same dream.  As a retired Social Worker – I love to help people, empower them and give them the chance to make their world a little brighter.  He as a political advocate does it in a way I don’t usually understand through the political system.  So, here is what grabbed me in the devotion:

We spend our lives trying to mimic everyone else’s script, we might miss the lines that are uniquely ours.

WOW, another AHA!!  When I am struggling, I always want to jump to someone else’s script and as a result, I miss focusing on the the things that I do well.  There are days when I can’t tell what I do well but I can surely tell you what I can’t do.  My brain focuses on the negative and not the positive – something that I am definitely working on DAILY!  Who is with me on that?

So, if you’re tired of feeling tired, make that list. If you’re worn out from the comparison game, make that list. If you can’t celebrate your talents and laugh at your limitations, make that list.

Stick it to your bathroom mirror. Carry it in your purse. And refuse to apologize for being you.

So, friend, if you’ve been created to bake homemade bread, by all means, bake away.

If you’ve been fashioned to encourage others, speak life.

If you’ve been gifted to sing, fill the earth with music, please.

But whatever you do, don’t try to do it all, or you just might miss the one thing that the world desperately needs you to do.

Share your thoughts… Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!