Please All, Please None

August 2006

As a child I read a story about a father and his young son taking their vegetables to market.  They started their journey leading the vegetable-laden donkey.  Soon they met country-folk who chastised the man for making his son walk when he could be riding the donkey.  The father placed the boy on the donkey and went on.  A few miles later, they encountered others who criticized the boy for riding while his father walked in the hot sun.  So the father climbed aboard the donkey as well.

Soon others accused them of abusing the donkey, who was struggling under all the weight.  Uncertain of what to do next, the father tied the donkey to his walking stick, and the boy and his father carried the donkey upside down.  While crossing a bridge into town, the donkey was frightened by the jeers and laughter from the crowe who mocked the man for carrying the beast of burden; and the donkey and all the wares went toppling into the river.  In his effort to please everyone, he ended up losing everything but the boy.

The story borders on the ridiculous, but many of us look equally as silly when it comes to pleasing others.  Remember the game of Twister we used to play?  We'd get so contorted with our arms and legs we could barely stand!  That's what we look like spiritually when we try to please everyone.  Ultimately, we lose ourselves.

Each of us is uniquely created by God to fulfill His purpose on earth.  To best accomplish this we:

        1.  Keep our eyes on the Lord.

        2.  Know we are loved by Him just as we are.

        3.  Seek to develop our unique gifts and talents for God's glory.

If you struggle in this area of needing to please others, pray and ask God to help you stop worrying about what others think.  As Him to reveal the truth of His Word to you so you understand and believe His perspective.

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Wife, mother of three and Registered Psychologist, Dr. Skidmore is well acquainted with the challenges of living a balanced life.  A humorous and dynamic communicator, Dr. Skidmore runs her own private practice, is Executive Director of "Take it to Heart Workshops", a popular radio guest "expert", and has hosted her own radio talk show.