I’m usually a person to whom “no” comes easily.
“Can you be the team mom?” No.
“Can you sub for this teacher?” No.
“Can you head up this committee?” N—well . . .
I was asked this week to head up a committee in an organization/ministry I used to be very involved with. I have to admit, I was flattered. It stopped the No before it left my lips.
“I’ll think about it, pray about it,” I told the caller.
I hung up the phone in wonder. Someone had remembered me. They thought I could head up this very important committee. No meetings, mind you. Just email and a few phone calls to make some decisions. I can do this, I told myself. And maybe this is what God wants me to do. After all, they did call me.
Two days later, after prayers coupled with busy days, I laughed at my own ridiculousness. I can’t do it! I can’t add one more responsibility in my life right now. If I do, it will detract from the things God has clearly called me to already—-namely, to be a wife, a mother, and a writer.
It was nice to be thought of, to be asked. But I must return to my familiar refrain: I’m sorry, but I won’t be able to do that.
Don’t feel guilty, D’Ann. It takes the average human only a year or so to learn to say “Mama” but it takes many decades to learn to say “No.” So long as it isn’t just a reflex, like a knee-jerk, and if it’s done after prayer and careful consideration, it’s probably the right answer.
I’m good at no, too! In fact, sometimes I wonder if I’m not a very good or committed Christian since the rest of the world “struggles” with saying no.