I am sure every reader has been anxiously awaiting my next blog post! I can dream, can't I? Well, to be honest, I have been anxiously waiting as well. Waiting to be inspired to share something AMAZING. To document some major life event, even just be excited about something. It's like I have writers block or something. I don't want to let my readers down. But, sadly, my life just isn't that exciting lately. To many, that is probably a good thing and I see the positives in it, but Travis has such a dynamic blog and it is hard for me to not compete with others. It's in my nature! Hence, the following....
My pastor spoke this past Sunday about the trap of "people pleasing" and how we should really be about "God pleasing" instead. It was a great message and I definitely needed to hear it. I am not necessarily a "people-pleaser". I am pretty good at standing my ground and speaking up when I don't agree. I don't let too many people or things intimidate me. However, the conviction came when he started talking about the people who expect to be pleased! OUCH! Yep, you got it. That's where I was stung!! I don't know if it's the educator in me or my up-bringing, or what, but I have VERY HIGH EXPECTATIONS!! Pretty much for every person I come in contact with. I expect great things! I expect my students to be respectful and work hard to be successful. I expect Tyler (my son) to behave appropriately at ALL times. I expect my husband to be my dreamy ideal husband ALL the time (who am I kidding? he always is ;o) I expected my parents to be happy and raise perfect children and our family to be a model for the world. I expect my friends to make good decisions. I expect all people to not use profanity. Can you tell that this could get a little out of hand? In education we are taught that if we hold high expectations, the students will RISE to the occasion. As much as this may be true...I have found that the higher my expectations are in life, the BIGGER my disappointments are in life. I can honestly say that I have never met a single person in my 34 years that has not in some way disappointed me. They most likely did NOT do it on purpose...but they did it. Guess what? I've disappointed MANY MANY people in my life too! We're human! I've even had expectations for God and HE disappointed me too! Isn't that just awful!!?? Who am I to say what God should do for me? God knows best! I know that in the end, I will NOT be disappointed. Thank goodness! Can you imagine me showing up in heaven and it not meeting MY expectations? HAHAHAHAH!! But I tell you, sometimes I feel that way. Like I will never be pleased. Why is that? It's not all selfishness. I want what's best for my friends and family. I want everyone to be working to be their best at all times. I want everyone to get along. I do not want Tyler to struggle in life. I do not want him to be a bully or to be bullied, I don't want him to call names or be called names. I want him to read on a 3rd grade level tomororw (ok, by next week) but you see all of this leads to disappointment. What will happen if I am not "pleased" with these situations? Will life, as we know it, end? (maybe in October??)
That is why I am so nervous about this blog. I hold such high expectations for everyone else, that it makes me not want to do things for others because I know my expectations and I imagine that everyone else has the same nature. I do not want to disappoint. So as a humbling experience I am sharing this with all of you. I am praying everyday that I will see the "good" in people. That I will make my business Godly business and not people-pleasing business. I pray that I will give everyone a much needed break and be happy (as much as it depends on me) with whatever God sends my way! I will recognize the "human" in all of us and try to throw a little grace out there for everyone.
Don't worry about Tyler...I know he will misbehave...trust me! He is NOT perfect! I know he will bully and be bullied, he won't read by next week and I'm sure he'll even use profanity at some point when I'm not around! I know that his struggles will make him stronger! I am praying daily for guidance in raising a son who is absolutely in LOVE with Jesus and covered in God's grace! That way, when the trials come that not even I can help him with, he'll be ok!
Thanks for spending this time with me. I hope it was worth it. But even if it wasn't, I am not disappointed :)
No comments:
Post a Comment