Heavenly Homemakers

Some readers request that I share more recipes. Some suggest that I share too many recipes. Some don’t like that I post spiritual content. Some wish I would post more spiritual content. Some roll their eyes at the deals I share. Some cheer and do flips for the deals I share. I always listen to what my readers have to say because I love offering content that will bless you in your homemaking efforts. I also know that what one person really needs or desires isn’t necessarily what the next person needs or wants. So it is with pretty much all of life, right?

It happens around my dinner table every single live long day. Someone is bound to not like what I served while others are gladly taking thirds. It happens during a every Sunday worship service. Some love the song selection and others find them to be too slow or too fast for their liking. Some find the sermon to be super meaningful and others find it to be irrelevant. I could think of other examples but some might prefer that I get on with my point.

Here’s the truth that we need to learn down to our very core:

1. You can’t please ’em all

2. You can’t be pleased by all

I’m not sure which is more important to know and which is the hardest to remember. Both involve the need to surrender self. It’s hard and it hurts but this is what I’m beginning to understand:  Trying to please all and expecting others to always rise to my occasion is harder and hurts worse than choosing to surrender self. Selfish living is completely empty – not to mention absolutely exhausting. Trying to constantly please others leaves me feeling defeated and discouraged. Thinking others must always please me leaves me frustrated and let down. No thank you, no thank you, no thank you.  I surrender, Jesus. What do you have for me that is better? What about this? What if we understood these two simple truths:

1. God is the only One we should seek to please.

2. God is the only One who will sufficiently meet all of our needs.

I think that pretty much covers it.

When I seek to please God, letting go of others’ (real or imagined) expectations of me, I will likely still be pleasing others. I won’t please them all, but God never asked me to and for real – if I was pleasing everyone why in the world would people ever recognize their need to seek Jesus? Okay then.

When I recognize that God is the One who meets my needs, suddenly that which is petty becomes irrelevant and that which matters turns into a Christ-centered passion. That’s how it works when one is listening to and letting the Holy Spirit work. So, my friend, remember this:  You will never please everyone. Also, people will sometimes frustrate you, especially when they do things differently than you would do them. This is life.

Instead of wallowing, I suggest we use our energy to seek Jesus and live as He calls each of us. Doesn’t that just sound refreshing? If this is something you struggle with like I do, might I suggest that you read (your whole Bible and also) read Hebrews 12? Being disciplined hurts, but it makes us more holy. Yes, holiness! Bring it.