Guest Post: Who's It Really For?

I can not begin to tell you how encouraged I was when I first read today's guest post from Rachel of No. 17. Sometimes a post just hits ya. You know? Like, smack dab between the eyes! The more I read from Rachel, the more I heard myself saying, "Uh-huh." "Amen!" I love the way she writes. It's so honest and real that I truly feel like Rachel is now a friend. Silly I know, especially since I've never even met her via email much less in person. But go read her blog and you'll see what I mean. Before you go, read this post for a little sample and lots of encouragement.


who's it really for?
A girlfriend came over this morning and after all the fun, fluffy conversation was taken care of, we got down to the nitty gritty. Not that it went crazy intense, or that we planned to get "intentional", but we started talking about life, motherhood and real "stuff".
{actually the conversation started by talking about a financial book we both are reading}

The conversation moved from topic to topic, but the underlying theme stuck with me and now that she is gone, there is one statement she made that has remained in my head.

"Who is it all for, really?"

Backstory:

During our conversation, we got on the topic of how we "live". You know...
The cars we drive, the houses we buy, what we wear, where our kids go to school, what we surround ourselves with and so on.

We both shared that, at times, we felt we didn't "measure up". Whether it be in a certain social circle, group setting or life stage. We just couldn't keep up with the "Joneses" {has anyone met them, by the way?}. Try as we might, we lived more modestly than someone else.

On the flip side, we discussed how there is an endless pursuit to do, be and buy. It seemed, to both of us, that we really need to be asking ourself WHY we do what we do. WHO are we doing it for?
That question seems so simple but it involves every aspect of our life-big and small.

At one point, when she made the statement, "we just need to ask ourselves WHO are we doing "it" for?", it really hit me.
I need to be asking myself that ALL THE TIME.

Who am I staying home for?
Who am I getting dressed for?
Who am I trying to impress with my "stuff"?
Who am I writing for?
Who am I considering when choosing my kids school?
Who am I thinking of when pursuing a new group of friends?
Who am I thinking of when getting excited about a new "business venture"?
Who am I giving the glory to when someone is complimenting something I did?
Who am I trying to please?

All these questions AND WAY MORE need just one answer:

God.

Always Jesus Christ.
An audience of ONE.

Honestly, I can say that there are days when that is the last thing I think of.

I:
stay at home because I think it is best for my child.
get dressed so I look good.
clean my house so that I look like I have it all together
blog so that I meet a quota
accomplish DIY projects so that I am satisfied
attend functions so people won't get irritated in my absence
cherry-pick what emotions I share with others so I don't seem vulnerable
contemplate choices for the future based on others opinions
and
return emails so people won't complain that I'm not in contact with them at every waking moment.

Doing these things isn't bad-it's the simple fact that I have done them for the wrong reasons.
The worst part is that we get caught in a cycle of not understanding why we do things and we totally lose focus. I want so badly to live for the Lord, but when you have done things so long for others, it's hard to see yourself anymore. It's difficult to define who YOU are and not who you wish others would see you as.
It's exhausting and while I feel I am coming out the other end {after living a life primarily for other people for a long time}....
I still get trapped now and again.

And I'm reminded.

Nothing matters apart from the Lord.

Not my children.
Not my marriage.
Not my home, car, clothes or hair.
Not my image, status or popularity.
Not my talents.
Not my achievements or "blessings".
Nothing.

And If I'm choosing to live a life without the Lord entered into EVERY part of it....it's destined to fail.

I want it to be said that I always infused the Lord into my choices. Even the small ones.
It's the way it needs to be.
At least, it's the way I know it SHOULD be, down deep in my heart.

"Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God."
Philippians 1:27


-Rachel


Bam! Right there. Kind of stings doesn't it? But I must confess, that sting is just what I needed - today and throughout the weekend. Thank you Lord for using Rachel to drive me back to ONE thing...You! Happy weekend faithful followers of One!