My 73 year old dad had minor surgery on his arm yesterday, so I called him to see how he was feeling. His voice sounded spry and he was really upbeat, so that was a good thing. "How's your pain medicine working?" I asked, assuming that his good spirits could be attributed to the comfort and euphoria provided by strong post-op pain meds.
"Aw girl," he said in his macho voice--he still calls me girl after all these years. "I'm not taking those things."
"What do you mean you're not taking your pain medicine Dad?" I retorted. "You just had surgery!"
"It's not hurting that much," he replied. "I'm not taking that stuff."
That's just like my Dad. Superman. "You're just old and set in your ways," I teased. We both shared a laugh about it, as he acknowledged the truth in that statement. You know, my Dad has always been the quintessential macho type. He's been the rock of our family and has never shown much vulnerability.
So, over the years, I grew accustomed to that mental, physical, and emotional toughness he displayed. In fact, I came to expect the same of myself and others.
But now that I'm more mature, I realize that none of us is invincible. We all have weaknesses, vulnerabilities, and limitations. Though my Dad is from the "old school" where the tough-as-nails approach is the norm, that hasn't proven to be an effective methodology, at least not in my own life.
Even though we belong to God and His supernatural power is at work in us, we're still stuck in this natural body. While most of us would like to take life head on and conquer the world in one fell swoop, that's just not reality. Life is a process. Things have to be taken in stride and I'd like to believe that, one day at a time is just the right pace.
I encourage you to examine your life. Be sure that you're not imposing unrealistic goals and expectations upon yourself. Acknowledge your humanity and respect it. Make sure you're staying balanced.
Perhaps, I won't be able to convince my stubborn Dad to take his pain meds, but prayerfully, I can help you see the merits of taking off that Superwoman cape and pacing yourself. Recognize that life is a balancing act; in order to be productive, we must find that middle ground and avoid falling into patterns of extremism.
Stay balanced.
That's so important, because none of us can do anyone else any good if we're all run down.
Maybe you didn't have anyone to model that balanced lifestyle for you, or maybe you did and you've simply strayed away from it. Whatever the case, it's time to make a decision not to be extreme. Respect your limitations; only God is the omnipotent, all- powerful one. We have to rely on His strength, while using ours wisely.
No matter what you're pursuing or working toward, balance is key. If you're working on your business, don't try to grow into a Fortune500 company overnight. If you're striving to finish school, don't overload yourself with courses just to finish sooner. If you're seeking to climb the career ladder, don't show up early, leave late, and neglect other important people and obligations in your life just to advance. If you're operating in ministry, don't mistake busyness for service to God.
Whatever you do, stay balanced.
If you ask God, He will most certainly help you. And as long as we have Him dwelling on the inside, He empowers us to carry out our purpose in the earth effectively and wisely, albeit incrementally. Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, "People with great gifts are easy to find, but symmetrical and balanced ones never."
Strive to be both gifted and balanced. That way, you'll be of greater use to God and others.
As always, thanks for reading, and until next time... may you be empowered to prosper!
Dianna Hobbs
www.eewmagazine.com
