One more thing? Really? Life As a Little Teapot
Hope you found some margin, some rest, a little refueling. Without that release and time to breathe, the pressure keeps building and building. I would hate for that sweet little song we learned as girls to become a scary interpretation of your life. You know, the one that goes...
I'm a little teapot, short and stout.
Here is my handle. Here is my spout.
When I get all steamed up, hear me SHOUT!!!!!!!
Tip me over and pour me out.
It's amazing how we allow the pressure build. Shoot girls, we invite it! For no extra charge today, I am sharing some wisdom with you from Hot Pastor. Get ready, because this could change your life. Seriously.
I'm not going to go over the whole thing about learning to say, "no". We have heard it over and over. We struggle and struggle because we are designed to nurture, to help. Out of our design, we serve, and help, contribute, and volunteer. And serve, and help, contribute, and volunteer. And serve, and help, contribute, and volunteer. Good intentions leave us frazzled and exhausted.
What I am going to tell you is that we have been looking at our commitments, our "yes" load, all wrong. Here it is, the Hot Pastor wisdom I promised- with a money-back guarantee. Ready? It is the principle of adding and trading.
When it comes to life, we cannot add, we have to trade. I have a current, super relative example.
I just began working. First time since I had my first child fifteen years ago. New commitment of my time, right? I could not add this to my life. I had to trade. I traded free time, a class I loved at the gym, quiet mornings at home after the kids went to school, writing this blog in the mornings, coffee with a sweet neighbor, and time for needed projects in my house.
It's about trading, not adding. The lie is that we can do it all. The lie is that we can squeeze in a new commitment and add it to our plate. The truth is that when we have to make room on our plate by taking something off. It's not like a buffet where Hot Pastor just stacks food on top of food. Not a healthy choice.
So, the question we must ask ourselves before we take on anything new, is "what will I give up?" We must consider what we are willing to trade. Not easy when it all looks so good.
I'll be honest, I had a day of grieving my gym class. I realize that may sound crazy to you, but it was such a good thing for me.
Guess what I did. I traded something. Two mornings of extra sleep and being home with my kids for two 6:00 AM classes. I was torn because I hate not being here to send them off to school, but I know that my health is a priority. In order to make that happen, Hot Pastor had to trade a little freedom those mornings to be Mr. Mom.
What will I give up? Every time I consider a new commitment, I have to ask.
Overextended, overwhelmed, stressed out women eventually fall apart. Maybe you don't just need some rest, perhaps you need some subtraction. Have you been adding instead of trading? Is your overflowing plate getting you to get all steamed up? Is your family hearing you shout? Time to tip over and pour something out.
Remember, the world won't fall apart if you stop, but you might. If I miss a day of writing this, you will be okay, right? God certainly speaks to you in millions of other ways besides through togethergirl. My children have all made it to school on my gym days without me. (Except one, and that is a story for another day.)
It's God's power that makes all the good stuff happen. He invites us to be a part of his work, but we can't if we're too tired.
Proverbs 16:9
The Message (MSG)
9 We plan the way we want to live,
but only God makes us able to live it.
but only God makes us able to live it.
Psalm 90:12
New International Version (NIV)
12 Teach us to number our days,
that we may gain a heart of wisdom.
that we may gain a heart of wisdom.