So, going from my last blog, about being real, I think that can open up a lot. To be real about frustration and sadness and disappointment and anger is hard.
But another topic that I feel like the Lord has been working in my heart is NEEDS. We all have needs. We have physical needs, to have enough water, enough food, enough sleep, shelter. As Americans, we are so privileged in these areas compared to most of the world. We also have relational needs, to feel wanted, to feel loved, to feel valued. We have spiritual needs, to confess, to worship, to grow, to serve.
So before I write these blogs, it normally is months in the making of God working something in me. Something I am learning is that my needs are not bad. Just as I would not tell someone that they shouldn't be thirsty after running a marathon, we do not have to deprive our emotional and spiritual needs in the name of "selflessness". For a recovering perfectionist, this is huge.
Selflessness is not cutting myself off from my needs and focusing on the needs of others, even if that means bitterness grows because I'm hiding. Instead, I am CHOOSING to meet the needs of others, not obligating myself to meet those needs. But choosing means just that, I have choice. I have choice after work whether I am going to take a nap, make my husband dinner, call my family, or be involved in a ministry.
Part of the beautiful thing of the gospel is that we can share our needs with each other. I can request something of someone. I can then give them choice to fulfill that. They are able to do the same from me, and I have choice to fulfill that.
I don't have to be superwoman and try to pretend that I don't have any needs and do everything! Why else would we need Christ and need the body of Christ? No, again, I can be real and human. I have limitations- physically, mentally, spiritually, and emotionally. And I don't have to pretend that I don't. I think I have missed out on so many blessings throughout the years by pretending that I am only there to meet other people's needs, not receive my needs being met.
So, let's make space to share our needs with each other and give each other the choice and potential blessing of meeting those needs, not the burdensome obligation of having to do so. Oh what freedom this brings!
But another topic that I feel like the Lord has been working in my heart is NEEDS. We all have needs. We have physical needs, to have enough water, enough food, enough sleep, shelter. As Americans, we are so privileged in these areas compared to most of the world. We also have relational needs, to feel wanted, to feel loved, to feel valued. We have spiritual needs, to confess, to worship, to grow, to serve.
So before I write these blogs, it normally is months in the making of God working something in me. Something I am learning is that my needs are not bad. Just as I would not tell someone that they shouldn't be thirsty after running a marathon, we do not have to deprive our emotional and spiritual needs in the name of "selflessness". For a recovering perfectionist, this is huge.
Selflessness is not cutting myself off from my needs and focusing on the needs of others, even if that means bitterness grows because I'm hiding. Instead, I am CHOOSING to meet the needs of others, not obligating myself to meet those needs. But choosing means just that, I have choice. I have choice after work whether I am going to take a nap, make my husband dinner, call my family, or be involved in a ministry.
Part of the beautiful thing of the gospel is that we can share our needs with each other. I can request something of someone. I can then give them choice to fulfill that. They are able to do the same from me, and I have choice to fulfill that.
I don't have to be superwoman and try to pretend that I don't have any needs and do everything! Why else would we need Christ and need the body of Christ? No, again, I can be real and human. I have limitations- physically, mentally, spiritually, and emotionally. And I don't have to pretend that I don't. I think I have missed out on so many blessings throughout the years by pretending that I am only there to meet other people's needs, not receive my needs being met.
So, let's make space to share our needs with each other and give each other the choice and potential blessing of meeting those needs, not the burdensome obligation of having to do so. Oh what freedom this brings!
