Scattering gifts...

For the body does not consist of one member but of many. 

                                                     1 Corinthians 12:14

One day during Holy Week, my children and I sat around the school table, talking about plant classification (exciting stuff!). Someone was probably lamenting the heavy burden placed on them by Mom, the homeschooling tyrant. Someone else was probably demanding a snack. 

My husband innocently pops his head in the door and sweetly says to me, "Hey, were you planning on singing for Easter? I'm just getting the bulletin organized." I glanced up from my work, and I'm not sure the look on my face, but I know the turmoil inside -

      One more thing, Lord. Really. 

      How am I going to manage?

      Where is the time going to come from?

      Maybe I can practice while the noodles cook….

      No, I need to return that phone call.   

      How about during quiet reading time?

      I need to get Bible study ready for tomorrow. 

And so on and so on. We all have the internal dialogue. Mine tends to range from organized files to harried and discombobulated. 

My husband looked into my face and gently imparted timeless wisdom for every pastor's wife -

            "You don't have to use all your gifts at one time."   

Good call, dear. I'm going to sit this song out. I'm going to praise the Lord on Easter morn from the pew. 

I so often want to seize every opportunity, meet every need, heal every hurting heart, but not only is that God's job, I was placed in a body to serve together. A wise person once said, "A need does not constitute a calling." Sometimes it all seems so overwhelming, so many hurting people, little things to be done here and there and everywhere. God knows. He has a plan. Even this is in His hands. Sometimes His plan for me is to say, "Thanks, but not this time."

God gave each of us many gifts to use for His glory. I'm sure you have so many ways and places to use them. He is so creative with each of us! Rest in this, sister…

      Use them, bless with them, but remember -

      You don't have to use them all at one time. :)