(FreeImages.com/MargaretYoung)
“No excuses!”
I have read the motivational phrases and the examples that have been lauded for us to follow: women and men who never quit and never say never.
I understand why they are lauded. These are men and women who have faced incredible challenges and yet have never allowed their challenges to keep them from reaching above-average goals.
I love reading the story of Nick Vujicic for that reason. The man is one of my greatest heroes! He was born without limbs, and yet, he has accomplished far more than most people who have been born with limbs. Nothing seems to daunt that man!
The truth is some of us need to believe more so we can live the more.
For some of us, our perspective is just not big enough. Our dreams aren’t big enough. Our belief isn’t big enough.
On the other hand, there is another side to this whole “No excuses” motto. There is a lot of pressure behind this, telling us that once again we are not enough or that we are making wrong, lazy, or even selfish choices if we decide that enough is enough.
The danger is that our culture is constantly telling us as women that being a wife and mother isn’t enough. We hear the phrase “I am just a stay-at-home mom.” There seems to be a sense of shame with that — as if raising future human beings with all of their God-potential is substandard.
I am all for education. I am all for being a Proverbs 31 woman who is a skilled business-woman.
What I don’t like is when I hear the pressure being put on women that somehow they are wrong if they decide that they like to live a simpler life.
We put so much emphasis on performance and praising the women accomplishing “super-woman” feats that it makes every other woman feel like she has to do the same or she is living a substandard life.
The question is, “Who determines fullness of life?” It’s not a company. It’s not a title.
Can I just say that fullness of life is found in living fully the life that God has given for you to live — not another person’s life?
Can I also say that if you live for the more, to be more, or to accomplish more, you will never be content nor live the full life?
More is always that indefinable goal that is ever elusive and never truly attainable.
I am going to just say what I have been thinking for awhile:
There are good excuses/reasons for not doing more. The truth is when you say “yes” to one thing, you are always saying “no” to something else. Sometimes, the something else is actually the thing you should be saying “yes” to instead.
There will always be business ventures and some new product to sell. There will always be something new to buy or admire. There will always be something you will want to change about your physical appearance, BUT…
Your kids won’t always be in your home. They won’t always be little enough to hold on your lap. You won’t always be able to watch them blow dandelions in the wind. You and your husband may not always be able dance together, play Nerf gun wars with your boys, and go for a run together. Each of these moments can’t be recaptured. Today can only be lived today.
Reaching a new level of achievement is exciting, but can I be very direct with you? You are not going to be content at that new level if you haven’t learned to be content at the level where you are currently. I know this sounds counter-productive to any type of sale’s job, but I am telling you that at the heart of the constant pressure for more is discontentment and a lack of identity or simply being.
A full life is a place of understanding the simplicity of fully “being” in the moment. It’s being content where you are. That’s what it means to be fully in the moment.
The invitation God has given to enjoy Him today and set aside distractions can’t be accepted tomorrow.
Dream for tomorrow, but live in today.
There are many things that call for our attention. The question is, “Which invitations will you accept, and which ones will you regret you didn’t accept?”
I want to live, knowing that I have accepted the most important ones, and often those aren’t the ones that others see or for which I will ever be recognized.
Grace In The Moment 