Saying yes…
Meant stepping out of my comfort zone, moving to Paris, spending an incredibly hard but incredibly important four years abroad, learning about myself, my faith, my world.
Saying yes…
Meant staying home, raising daughters, finding ways of fulfilling my strengths, of continuing to learn, of passing on traits and role models to the women of our future.
Saying yes…
Meant sitting at a table of strangers, of making awkward conversation, of learning about what it’s like to be a woman in today’s world of balance and having it all (or not), of finding my own unique mix of life-giving needs.
Saying yes…
Meant getting up early on a Saturday morning, meeting strangers in a parking lot, snowshoeing with a group of people I didn’t know, of unexpectedly meeting my husband.
Saying yes…
Meant sticking with community, even when it didn’t feel easy, even when I felt I was putting in more work than anyone else, even when I wanted to quit, even as I saw amazing friendships and conversations and ideas emerge from all that work.
Saying yes…
Is learning to say no to certain busy-ness and yes to quiet times at home, of learning that balance and the strength to recognize when no to one opportunity means yes to something quieter but often better.
Saying yes…
Sometimes means my own carefully formulated plans are no longer reality and that’s ok.
Saying yes…
Isn’t always the easiest or most natural response, but when I do say yes… I often find myself a more compassionate, complete person.
What have you learned from saying yes?
Linking up with Kate Motaung’s Five Minute Friday, a time to write without editing.
Annie, I love how all the times you said yes, even though it was more difficult in the moment, there were surprises (of the good kind!) waiting for you after you committed. Such good lessons. God gives each of us the opportunity to say yes to certain things. When we don’t go for it, we often miss out on good things and growth closer to Him.
I’ve learned a lot from saying yes. I’ve learned to trust God more, to depend on Him more completely and that there are benefits from not being the busy-super woman I can be inclined to be. Stillness and a quieter life are much more fulfilling on a soul-deep level. 🙂
It’s easy in hindsight to see the benefits – I’m still learning to listen without questioning (too much) in the moment! I love that a quiet life is taking the forefront in conversations – it definitely trumps busy-ness!
Annie, our posts are very similar this week. I’ve missed you. I’m parked in the #15 spot this week.
Thanks for stopping in again, Tara! Hoping that we’re finding a rhythm and I can participate more easily… 😉
Saying yes definitely leads you to experience you never thought you would have. My most recent was saying yes to a new grade and a new classroom.
Praying for you this year – that the transition goes smoothly and it’s a fulfilling move!
Thank you so much Annie.