The GOOD is not the BEST

"Learning to say no to what is not a top priority and yes only to the requests that fit my personal mission statement...has been one of the best skills I have learned."  Becky Tirabassi

I read this quote this morning and it resonated with my spirit.  The ability to learn to say "no" is a very difficult ability to learn.  We, especially women, are raised to try and meet everyone's expectations.  At least I was.  So, when I was younger I would say "yes" to almost any and every request made of me by anyone in my church or among my close friends.

I was a young working wife, and mother of 4.  I had many responsibilities in that role, but I would "add on" all these other requests.  I'm not sure how old I was when I finally realized that my first priority was not to fulfill every request made of me.  Learning to just say a simple "no" without guilt or even explanation was a huge, and very freeing accomplishment for me.  

"But let your communcation be, Yea, yea: Nay, nay; for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil." Matthew 5:37 

As I got older, and my children were leaving the nest, and then as I retired, "responsibilities" in those areas were greatly reduced.  It was at this time I became aware of the 2nd step in this area:  that a good use of my time and attention was not always the best use.

The words in the quote above, "my personal mission statement" just jumped off the page at me.  We each have our personal calling and function as our part in the Body of Christ. That truly is our personal mission statement.  My constant prayer the past 9 years has been to endeavor to fill my life with the best and not just the good each and every day.  Do I always succeed?? NO!! ~~~~ but being conscious of His call upon my life and aiming for His best certainly has helped me truly be active and busy in fulfilling MY PERSONAL MISSION STATEMENT.