"Cut yourself some slack..."

A few weeks ago, my husband was getting "stressed" over a flier that had unequal borders/ margins. I think the difference would have been ½ a centimetre - if it was that much. When he showed it to me and told me how he was planning to trim off the "extra" I looked at it and said to him, "It's ok as it is" actually what I meant but didn't vocalize was "Cut yourself some slack" - then decided to write about it.

I fully understand where my husband is coming from - because we were "baked in the same oven" under our dear Pastor Tony Rapu (@drtonyrapu). We were taught that our God is an Excellent God so Excellence should and must be our standard. I totally agree which is why in thinking that we needed to cut ourselves some slack, we must not become slack because:

He becomes poor who works with a slack and idle hand,

but the hand of the diligent makes rich.* 

Slack habits and sloppy work are as bad as vandalism.**

 

Being stressed and being slack are two ends of a continuum. We need to know when to "relax" a bit because if you're overstressed, you'll snap. Even elastic bands have a "breaking point" - and when it's past that point, it loses it's usefulness. I don't know how busy your year has been but I'm sure that the word "busy" may not fully capture it. As we inch our way towards Christmas (10 days to go), give your husband, family and yourself a present of some slack... 

Please take some time to rest and be refreshed. You know why? Next year will be busier than this year so you need the strength - not the stress - to keep going...to bigger and better things.

 

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas - one where you'll enjoy the presence of your family and friends more than the presents. Presents are nice-to-have

but the must-have is God's Presence. May He be with you and yours...

"See" you next year.

 

References:
* Prov 10:4 - Amplified
** Prov 18:9 - The Message

It must be in the name...

I spent some part of Friday night and Saturday watching final goodbyes to an amazing couple.
It was both very sad and extremely sobering.
Person after person talked about how this Mrs. Pastor, who's husband was known all over the world, was content to be his helpmeet - in the shadows. In all the years, I'd heard and read Myles Munroe, I'd never heard his wife, Pastor Ruth Ann, speak but he never left anyone in doubt on how much she meant to him.

As I thought about it, I wondered if her name had anything to do with it all. The Bible tells us about her namesake: 

^16-17 But Ruth said, “Don’t force me to leave you; don’t make me go home. Where you go, I go; and where you live, I’ll live. Your people are my people, your God is my god; where you die, I’ll die, and that’s where I’ll be buried, so help me God - not even death itself is going to come between us!”*

In this sad situation, she stood/sat by her husband right to the end. I guess for me the lesson from this was I must seek to complement my husband at all times. I agree that the names may be coincidental however, it was evident that she was clear on her purpose in life, marriage and ministry and was committed to it right to the end.

Another thing that stood out for me, from the tributes was that she took time to live fully with her friends. For some, being Mrs. Pastor can be lonely so we need to have a few friends. And beyond that, "make" and take time to spend quality time relaxing with them.

After such an emotionally-charged weekend, my prayer is that God will help us number our days, enjoy each day and also know and do all we have been called to do to His glory. AMEN!

Reference:
*Ruth 1:16-17 (MSG)