The Busy Times

The last couple weeks I have been faced with a challenge: how to make a difference when you are too busy to think? I know the next 3 weeks will only be worse, as we near Concert Week at dance. 

I imagine I will have the opportunity to meet myself coming and going, as they say, but I am determined not to squelch on my deal to make a difference. It can be done, even in the busy times, I am sure. 

So, how? 

Well, I can't change the things I have to do, so I guess I should change the way I do them. Instead of grumbling as I paint a prop, measure ribbon, or sew straps, I can be cheerful. "God loves a cheerful giver." I believe this applies to anything you give, not just money. So, it means give my time and energy cheerfully. It might not make a huge difference in the world, but it will make a difference in my attitude. I think it will also make a difference to the child whose costume I am fixing. If in this one small way, I make them feel prettier, more loved, more worthy, or more confident, then it is worth it. 

So, today, I am going to make a small difference. I think the big difference will come. 

I Don't Wanna

Sometimes it is fairly easy to do the right thing and obey the voice inside. Sometimes it is not. Sometimes it is downright scary. I recently opened up at a girls retreat and admitted something that I had only admitted to myself not 24 hrs earlier. I hadn't even told my closest friends, though I suspect they knew without being told. I had been holding on to some deep seated fear and insecurities without realizing it, and allowing Satan to get in my head. As part of my talk, I planned to say that I had been giving into some fears recently, but I never in a million years planned on sharing the deeper fears I had just discovered. Some things hit too close to home to share! And I am one who tends to hold on to the most personal things and not share willingly.  Mom always said she could tell if something was really important or bothering me, because I wouldn't talk about it. But as I started talking about my assigned topic, I felt this nudge that said, "Keep going. Tell them the other part." And I did. And it was terrifying. But once it was out there, I felt this unreal peace cover me. This calm that said, "They won't judge you. It's ok." A couple of them even came up to me and thanked for talking about it. They said it made them feel better to know other people struggled with that fear and insecurity.
So, while I have failed many times in this challenge, and I will do many more things wrong, because that's life,  at least today I am comforted. I listened to the voice, and it felt right. I hope we can all do more of that. I know it pleases Him when we obey. Even when (or maybe especially when) we don't wanna.