Before you get your list of complaints ready to share with another, be sure you are doing all you can do in the situation. Because in many situations you can usually do more. Give more grace, be kinder, more understanding, etc.
I was reminded of this just the other day. Not directly, in a more roundabout way, but the take away was practically the same – Are you doing all you can do?
And the truth of the matter is that I wasn’t. I was worn out on work on several levels and I hadn’t brought my best to the situation. But this reminder encouraged me to renew my efforts to be my best! And I thought maybe you could use some encouragement too!
Love Never Fails
I’m sure you are familiar with the love chapter, 1 Corinthians 13. I have a sign on my wall that has a few verses from it:
Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails…
Theses verses remind me of the love I want to show those around me. I’m human and I fall short and I don’t measure up as much as I want to. But my heart is to love like God loves, to love like these verses depict.
That last portion there, love never fails, is such a good reminder to me. Sometimes when I’ve made the effort to give someone grace or overlooked an annoyance multiple times, I begin to think I’ve done enough. But the truth is, love doesn’t keep record – it’s not a four times and you’ve been holy and the next time you can react however you want to, type of a thing.
No, love is not selfish, love considers others before self, love helps you give your all to those around you. Love helps you go the second mile and do all you can do.
All You Can Do
All you can do is all you can do, but all you can do is enough.
I don’t remember where I got that quote from, but it is interesting. I remember as a child realizing that bringing my best to the table was always a moving target. Many times when I really purposed to do my best, I realized my best was just a bit better than I had considered.
And I believe I notice that today. When I set aside my self-centered ideas of how things should be and simply bring my best to the situation, things go even better than I imagined! You’d think this would make bringing my best an easy – even default – thing to do, but the truth of the matter is that I still struggle with selfish expectations.
So here is to renewed efforts of setting aside self and focusing on others and what God has for me! He has perfectly equipped each of us, it is just up to us to tap into that potential and give it our all!
Rest Well
I know I’ve mentioned this in the past, but it seems to be an ongoing struggle that I deal with and that people around me deal with too.
Get your rest. Go to bed a little early or take an afternoon nap. However you can sneak in a little extra rest will only work to your advantage! When you are tired, you are not at your best. Be it your attitude or your performance that suffers, it doesn’t do you any favors.
It is so much easier to practice patience, to give grace, to be full of hope when you are well rested!
Encourage Others
Share this encouragement with others, tactfully and in love, of course! We women need to encourage each other to be our best, to not be complainers. Some days we just need a reality check!
I pray this reminder has been a blessing, has added fuel to your efforts and hope to your heart!
Until Next Time!
Hope.
PS. Keep reading: https://www.theamericanlady.com/2021/09/22/look-past-yourself/