Time Is Life
Most of us--if not all of us--would never think of allowing others to spend our money. Yet every day we allow others to spend our time. This is especially serious since money is replaceable, but time is not.
You may say, "MaryAnn, how do I allow others to spend my time?" Here are a few common ways:
1) If you promised yourself to work on that article today and your best friend calls, what do you do? Do you chat on the phone for an hour? Accept her invitation to go out to lunch? Or do you politely tell her you have an appointment with yourself to write an article?
2) Your church needs someone to chair the Christmas dinner. You are asked to do the job, and you accept because you're afraid to look bad if you say no. All the while, however, you're angry at yourself inside for agreeing to do something that will take time from your writing.
3) Your child's Kindergarten class needs some moms to bake cupcakes for their Valentine's Day party. You agree to bake them. The time it takes would be enough to write the first draft of a story. Why not buy the cupcakes at the bakery?
Did you recognize yourself in any of these scenarios? Or similar ones? If so, then you may wish to ask yourself if you'd allow others to spend your money the way you are allowing others to spend your time.
And that's my "musing that matters" for today. What's yours? :)
Blessings,
MaryAnn
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Copyright 2007 by MaryAnn Diorio, Ph.D. All rights reserved. This blog entry may NOT be reproduced, reprinted, or published in any form whatsoever without the written permission of Dr. MaryAnn Diorio. You may, however, forward it to others, but please do so IN ITS ENTIRETY. Thank you for your cooperation.
Comments
MaryAnn--as usual, your words are so timely!After moving 18 months ago, and visiting regularly between two great churches, we committed to membership in one of them last Sunday. I want to be a supportive member, but I also know how easily I rope myself into things. It is so nice starting with an empty plate--I pray that God will give me discernment--and put his hand over my mouth--when I start to volunteer outside of His will.
Just a note of encouagement for those reading this: It IS possible to have victory over this issue of others spending your time. I can honestly say that about 75% of the time, I'm FREE from allowing others to spend my time. It feels good! Believing that I am a worthwhile child of the Most Hight God enables me to live my life in a manner that's between He and I. It doesn't even bother me anymore that others don't get it. I'm just polite, yet confident about my choices. Now...about the other 25%....As they say, "Rome wasn't built in a day"!
Ouch! Right between the eyes with something I TRULY needed! Thank you! I'm not a mom, so the cupcake scenario doesn't fit, but I do know about being overcommited! Thank you for the reminder that we mustn't let important things interfere with what is truly vital: our ministry!
Yes, I think the key is sensitivity to Him. Although there are times when I have stepped in to fill a need (like playing the piano in church when nobody else can do it) I'm usually content to follow Him
and just do what He has specifically called me to do. Although there are times when maybe my hand will help my foot it does not become the 'norm'. How crazy that would be. He has gifted us to write and write we must. Now I am one who must get those cupcakes from the bakery this week. Thanks for the reminder MaryAnn.
My late husband had a favorite saying: "No is a complete sentence."
Too often we try to convince others that our reasons for not doing something are valid. I'm learning to say, "thank you for asking, but I have another commitment."
Hi Everyone...
I needed this message. I find it hard to say no and also spend time on the phone or puttering around when I should be writing. I loved Susan's late husband's saying that No is a complete sentence and her response about saying thank you but I have another commitment. I also enjoyed the other responses. Hope we can all buckle down more for the Lord this year.
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I see myself in all those situations, but I'm getting better at saying NO and giving myself more time.
The hardest part is not feeling guilty.