I don’t think so.
You see I was just visiting Mr. FullCup for lunch when a co-worker of his (and a friend of mine) gave me a little quiz. By little I mean not overly large. But it did have 40 questions.
The quiz was on whether or not you are a strong-willed wife. I very calmly and politely took the 2 sheets of 8.5×11 paper from her, quickly scanned the title and promptly said, “No.” Not “no, I won’t be participating” but “No, I don’t need this because the answer is most definitely not.”
And Mr. FullCup smirked. Yes, he did. He smirked.
I guess the guest on Focus On The Family today was talking about this quiz and my dear friend had to find the dern thing and print off a copy for me.
For me?? Really??? Is she out of her ever-livin’ mind? Well probably but that is quite beside the point because you see, Mr.FullCup smirked about it.
I read the quiz and let me tell you, I don’t qualify.
Well, except there was the one question, “I feel exhausted because I seem to be doing everything myself.” I mean I’m not exhausted all the time unless you count from the time I open my eyes in the morning until I close them at night as being all the time.
It seems I think I’m the only one who can really walk the girls to piano and ballet lessons. I’m the only one who can cook supper. (But that’s only because I have Jimmy Johns on speed dial.) The only one who can really do the laundry, including hanging clothes outside. Do the dishes? Oh yeah, as long as it’s daylight, I’m the only one who can get them done. (Now when the sun goes down, I’m simply to exhausted to care if they’re done or not. ) I am the only one who can sweep the floor, vacuum, mop, water plants, homeschool, teach the fifth grader math and grammar, and spelling and history, and science. I am the only one who can raise my children as I see fit. The only one who can teach them the things of God.
Sheesh I’m exhausted just typing all that out. No wonder I’m tired much of the time. (And no wonder I just yawned.) But you know what? I don’t have to do it all. I don’t. I’m not called to do it all. God has blessed me with people in my life and in my family who are more than capable and more than willing okay we’ll stick with capable to help when I ask.
And the hard things I am called to do, the things that are my responsibility, He promises to be there to help me. He promises that if I exchange my burden for His, if I take His burden in exchange for my to-do list (that I never get around to making anyway because it would scare me), He promises a lighter burden. He says, “Come to me, all who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11:28-29)
Friends, that is good news! We don’t have to think thoughts like, “If I don’t do it, no one will.” We don’t have to live our lives exhausted every second. We don’t have to be a slave to our schedule, or to-do list, or phone, email, facebook, etc. We don’t. No, we are free to rest.
I think that is what I’ll be doing the rest of the day…and hopefully the rest of my life. What about you?
If I should ever appear to be raving about my friend Kathi Lipp’s books it is simply because I am. I can’t seem to stop it and I don’t think I want and I’m pretty sure she doesn’t want me too.
