Hey, hi!
I’ve got fun news. I’m working on a new book! I’m so excited about this one. It’s due to the editor on Friday. Yikes! Our plan is to have it published by September, so I’ll have it available at my Fall speaking events. Oh, I’m just so excited for you to read it. I’ll share more details once the editor has finished her work. (My brain is full of writing words, writing words, and writing words. But I’m loving it.)
In the meantime, would you pray for this book? Pray for the people who will read it – that they will be encouraged and reminded that they are not alone. Pray that it will get into the hands and hearts of women who are looking for a breath of fresh air, some cool water to quench their thirst, and good nourishment for their souls. May God be lifted up with these messages! Thank you.
My note this week is a story from my book, This is Livin’. It’s a message close to my heart because I can struggle with wanting to fix situations that aren’t mine to fix, step in when it’s not necessary, and get in the way of my friend seeing God work.
Enjoy the note and may the rest of your week be filled with surprises of joy!
***
I nicknamed the woman on the right Anxious Alice.
The friend who stood to her left became Helpful Hannah.
They were standing at the Panera counter placing a very complicated bagel order.
Anxious Alice desired a certain number of Blueberry bagels, several Cinnamon Crunch, a few Whole Grain, a couple Asiago Cheese, and a few other choices. Then she started to explain to the young girl behind the counter how she wanted them sorted and bagged. She was very particular, and was very anxious about the order.
At the same time, her friend Helpful Hannah was trying to be … helpful. Hannah was asking clarifying questions to make sure the order was clear, interpreting Anxious Alice’s requests, offering suggestions, and trying to uncomplicate the order. She was, in essence, repeating what Alice was saying, just using different words. The tension in the conversation was starting to rise.
And then without warning, Anxious Alice let everyone know she had heard enough from Helpful Hannah.
Alice turned to her friend and in a very exasperated and firm tone, said, Would you please stop talking. I can’t hear what the girl behind the counter is saying when you are talking to me. You are distracting me.
Helpful Hannah stopped talking.
Well. That little scenario had my name all over it. The little twinge in my heart told me so.
There may be times when I am Anxious Alice.
But most of the time? Just call me Helpful Hannah.
I want to Help. Fix. Make the pain go away. Change the situation.
Nothing wrong with that, until I get in the way.
Until I become noisy and confusing. Distracting.
Until I keep my friend from hearing from The One Who Knows Best.
Those of us who wear Helpful Hannah on our name badges need to remember that we can’t always make everything OK. Sometimes we need to stop talking, stop advising, stop fixing, and just walk along with our friend in prayerful silence.
And let God do His best work.
I sat down at my table and while adding the cream cheese to my bagel, I thought hard about what I’d just seen.
I need to remember that not every situation is mine to fix.
Not everyone is looking for my help. And that’s a good thing.
It’s not up to me to provide a better solution to most conversations.
Yeah. I need to remember that.
If you don’t have a copy of This is Livin’: Learning to Move from Messy Moments to Happy Places, go ahead and order it! It’s a fun and encouraging read.
