There are times that I tell my clients that they not only have the right to say NO, but also the responsibility to say NO. We, especially as women, often feel overwhelmed by the sheer volume of daily tasks in our lives. Unfortunately, many of us add even more to the list when we take on the “favors” that others ask of us. Not that helping others out at times is a bad thing, but when it takes away energy and time from what we should be doing we have the responsibility to say NO!So, how do we know what we should be doing? For about 3 years I worked for a cancer support agency that offered free counseling and support groups for individuals with cancer and their family members. We had a board of about 80 members who had all contributed financially to the center and all had ideas about what we “should” be doing with their money. It would have been chaos to try to implement all of their ideas, but how do you say no to someone who is funding your salary!? Our executive director had a method that I use to this day. She listened to each request and then pulled out the mission statement that each board member had signed off on. If their idea fit within the mission statement of the organization we did what we could to implement the idea. If it didn’t, the executive director would look at the board member and say, “That is a great idea, and someone should be doing it, but it’s not us…it doesn’t fit with who we say we are as an organization.”
There are times that others have a great idea about how I should be spending my time and energy. I have to keep my life mission statement in mind and filter any new activities through it. If saying yes would take away energy or time from what I believe God has called me to do, I have the responsibility to say no…even if the new activity is for a good cause or it won’t take long to do it. Submitting my list to God helps me keep my life in balance. Others may be disappointed, but if God is pleased that’s all that matters!
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8 comments:
That is a great personal mission statement, thank you for sharing this. This is such a wonderful quote for this time of year.
What a great way of filtering good requests. I think I may need to look at articulating a mission statement for 2008. Bless you!
Having a clearly defined personal mission is obviously important so we can strain our activities through that sieve. Thanks for these good reminders.
We all need this advice in our lives. God's best for us means saying no to other things for sure. Blessings on you this busy season...
What a great way to show others why you don't do something!
Be blessed!
"but if God is pleased that’s all that matters!"
This is so very true! What a timely word! Thank you!
I have been trying to figure out just exactly what my mission statement is. Since I don't have one, and since I have very few demands on my time, I am always offering to do things for people. What I have found is that I am blessed with more time and energy than I can ever give. I have been in situations in the past where I had many responsibilities and would over extend, so I do appreciate what you penned here. I am just wondering how you define your mission?
TM
TM, Good question. I feel that God has called me to help hurting people. The verses God gave me as a calling are in Isaiah 61:1
1 The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, [a]2 to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn...
When I started my career I misinterpreted my calling as "preacher" and I worked as a full time staff member in a church. I finally realized that I couldn't do what God called me to do working in a church. I was so busy doing "good" things, like starting ministries, teaching, etc. that I didn't have time for people.
I think that many times our mission is the very thing that gives us energy and fulfillment. I also think that our mission in life may change depending on our stage in life and situation.
It sounds exciting that God is using you in so many people's lives right now. If this is where God wants to use you then you are fulfilling His mission for your life!!
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