Who To Please????

Monday - July 20, 2009

How many of us try to please ALL those we love? I think most of us do whether we realize it or not. For most of my life I have tried to do what others have asked of me. Of course it started with my parents telling me what I needed to do. They taught my brothers and me to obey God's word, to do unto others as we would have them do unto us, and to always put 100% into what we were working at - our school work, our careers, and our life in general.

I truly believe I have yet to please all those I love - I'm not asking for a pat on the back - I'm just stating a fact. The only one I truly hope has been pleased with what I have done or doing is our Lord and Savior. He is the one we all should be trying to please and doing His will.

When growing up, I never chose where to go, what to play, or what to eat. Whoever I was with usually made those choices because I was happy with whatever we did. As I grew older and got a job, I needed to be the one to make decisions in the classroom. However, I still had to get the approval and please my supervisors - was I really making decisions for myself or was I again trying to please others. In the beginning, I believe it was to please the "boss." As I gained confidence and experience, I chose what was best for my students. Each group was different and required different teaching techniques to gain the knowledge I was trying to get them to learn. If I had access to my lesson plans, I would not see the same lesson taught the same way year after year. Many times the plans changed because of something I had learned at a conference, and I felt would be helpful to my students.

I never felt I was doing my best. I would be in a teacher's meeting always listening to what "we" had done wrong. Everything I had been doing was never good enough, or so I thought! Those in charge would "jump" the whole staff for the actions of a few!! I took it to heart that I was guilty to a certain degree, but those that were guilty, hmmmm - they never accepted their part of the problems being addressed.

It wasn't until I retired that I finally felt I had done my best and it was appreciated. I was chosen as WMS Teacher of the Year by my peers, and have heard from several former students who have let me know that now they appreciate what I had tried to do for them way back when!! Those comments mean more to me than they will ever know!!! Thank you all for telling me!

Today, I am in still in a mode to try and please those I love. I try to balance my life around their wishes and needs. I have been told that I should do what I want and that everyone else will have to understand and get over it if they don't. That may be true, but there are feelings of others that need to be considered - it's not and never has been just about me!! I don't think God wants us to be "me" people. I have come across many people in this world who need to have their wants met first - regardless of how difficult that might be if it involves others. We all need to be more flexible and not so rigid if plans do not meet our wishes. Life is full of disappointments, but through them they may help us grow as a better person and teach us tenacity and patience.

Sometimes, throughout my life, I have felt like a yo-yo. I did what I needed and wanted to do, but there were some who wanted me to do something else or go by their schedule. There have been times in my life in which I did make a decision about where to go or to eat, and in some cases there was a comment about how poor the service or food was. I always felt it was my fault - I know, why? Just because that is who I am. I think about others and their feelings before I do mine. Many people say they think about others too, but will still say and do things that hurts them - they claim they are just being honest with them. There is a time to be honest and then there is a time to think about what you are going to say. Sometimes it is best to leave thing unsaid, and yes other times the truth does need to be told. When to say something, or when to stay quiet is like walking a tight rope and trying to keep your balance!!! This was something we dealt with a lot with many of our students. They felt it was always okay to say what was on your mind no matter who it hurt! I want all I love to be happy and have what they want when they want it, but. . . . . will that ever happen, only God knows for sure! I have never been a "me" person, and I don't believe I ever will!

Last year when Bill and I were away for two weeks at the beach, I felt free and happy. I knew all back here were fine and being taken care of, and I felt free as a bird to do as I wanted!! Some of you may think - what about Bill - the thing is, we love doing and going places together. WE chose what to do together - some days he stayed at the condo - I went to the beach! The thing was - there was NO pressure to please anyone but myself - this was what Bill wanted me to do, and I love him for that!

To be able to follow the wishes of everyone is impossible. To be able to please everyone and make them happy is also impossible. But to try and do my best as the Lord wants me to do is what I want and need to continue doing!! I need to not worry about what others think. Mom and Bill are my top priorities as both need me - and I need them! Mom's eyesight and other medical problems; Bill's diabetes, BP, and cholesterol levels need to be kept in check; and my health also needs to be monitored! Who will be there to do all that I do if I'm not around?????? I also want to be there for Cora Ann as well as for David and Jeni! (Sorry guys, but Cora Ann jumped ahead of you! :):):))

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will direct your paths." Proverbs 3:5-6