I am routinely asked to become a member of various organizations. And, I admit, I would routinely joined them all. I'd go to this meeting or that meeting - giving the appearance of being sooo busy, being actively engaged and showing an interest. But, truth be told, I was not interested in 99.9% of the ideals put forth by these organizations. Actually, when I stopped and examined the mission statements of these organizations, I realized that their statements did not line up with my life mission or purpose nor did these organizations add much substantive value to my life. I found out, like so many others I've encountered in my life, that I was seeking to fill a void - a void of, well, not being comfortable with me and who I was. Chock it up to a lack of self esteem, a feeling of a lack of worth, the need to be accepted and feel appreciated by my "peers" - whatever, it just became part of my daily existence. Yet, it had become a vicious circle, one that I was so deeply entrenched in that I hadn't even notice I was allowing myself to be slowly and systematically drawn into. One day I happened to be talking to a young client about her case. I went over the various program resources available that could assist her in overcoming some obstacles. She looked me in the eye and said, " Do you know any of the people running these programs?". Well, no, I responded. Then she said. " I don't know them, either. If they don't know who I am, how can they help me?" For a moment,I was speechless - it was like - great question. I then asked her questions about what her needs were, if she had a support system that could meet those needs and learned that her church actually had a recovery program and that she knew many of the people involved with the program. After some investigation and a background check I learned that, in fact, the church program was a great fit for her. Her question " if they don't know who I am, how can they help me", was an aha moment for me. It was the catalyst I needed to take a long hard personal look at who and what I had allowed to enter into my daily life and what value these entities brought to my "table of life". That is when the purging began -the moment when I came to realize and understand the "what I knew for sure" realities that actually fueled my life: that I have a hubbie and children who love and protect me - and who I love and protect as well. That my family loves me - even when we don't say it - even with all the drama :0) - we show it. That my friends of 40 plus years have my back and will support and cheer me on, will correct me when I'm wrong and still love me no matter what. That being a "sister" goes beyond race, color, creed or religion. That life for me its not about accumulating more "stuff" or fighting for a title. That God is no respecter of persons - the same love, blessings, favor and forgiveness he has for me is also available to you. That I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me and finally, as a man thinkest, so is he. All of this is what I know for sure. How about you?
No comments:
Post a Comment