You're More Than Enough

It had been one of those days. The kind where I made two pots of dark roast Starbucks coffee and drank it ALL. I had spent 10+ hours working (the kind you do at a real job. Except I get to do it in the comfort of my own home. In my PJs). I won't even mention the two hours of house cleaning I did afterwards.

Someone said it. Someone uttered the words.

"I don't know why you always say you're busy. You can't be that busy. Don't you just sit on the couch all day long and watch TV?"

I'm sure they meant it in a harmless way. But I really had to pray for the whole 15 second pause I took before responding. Thank goodness for God's mercy and grace, otherwise a long list of mean and harsh words would have escaped.

My life is very full and I love that. My days are spent in constant motion. As soon as I hit the pillow at 11:30 every night, I'm already passed out from the long day.

When people make assumptions about my life, I easily get frustrated. But here's what I learned recently: I don't owe anyone an explanation for how I spend my hours between waking and sleeping again. I do, however, owe God one.

Like everyone else, I'm often met with unrealistic expectations from the people around me. And they like to be very vocal about their opinions of how I should be spending those 18 hours I'm awake.

For a long time, I would hold a brave face in front of these people. I didn't allow my tears to form until I got home. My poor husband would sit beside his weeping wife as she asked why the world was convinced she should be doing everything but what she was called to do (at the time, I was merely a housewife who was learning how to cook and clean).

"Get a job," they all said.

And I resisted because God had specifically laid it on my heart to focus on my wife role. Shortly after mastering the kitchen and learning the art of ironing, God brought me a job. I started teaching a few classes at the school.

"Oh, you only work part-time," they said.

And I bravely moved forward, ignoring their remarks. Because I knew that God had still called me to be a good wife who was focused on her home; not how much money her part-time career brought home.

"Oh, you run a business, teach, volunteer, clean, take care of a household and do yard work. Surely, you could do more. Because I'm still convinced you sit on the couch and watch TV all day."

I think it was at this point that I threw my arms up in the air in defeat. Because THERE IS NO PLEASING THE WORLD.

Even if I wanted to, I can't. I can't give enough or do enough to get the world's acceptance. And that's fine with me. Because I'm not interested in the world; I'm interested in God.

I have found that the world, which continually says, "Let's accept everybody for who they are," won't accept me simply as I come. I'm not thin enough. I don't work enough. I don't give enough. I'm not pretty enough. I don't make enough money. I don't abandon my morals and values in pursuit of the impartiality it proclaims, but never gives.

But those are all lies the world tells. They are just lies. There is no truth to them.

God will always accept me just as I am.

And when the world says, "You'll never do or be enough," I know my God always responds with, "You are more than enough."