My youngest son has the sweetest giggles. He loves anything that involves a ball, sword or super hero. His idea of a good time is anything that makes my heart stop in fear he's going to hurt himself. He is all boy. On the good and bad days, he stays true to himself: sweet, energetic and a tad on the feisty side. As a mama to a gentle spirited older son who's idea of a good time is crafts and cuddling with mom, my little B was an adjustment. His stubbornness and aggressive all boy behavior has often frustrated me, but no matter what B never waivered. He has stayed true to the little boy God created him to be. I wish I was more like that. I tend to be a gentle spirit as well, eager to please and always wanting to do the right thing. I love helping others and will sacrifice my own needs for others if need be. It's who I am. It's taken me a long time to learn and appreciate the real me, to recognize my strengths and my weaknesses. I will admit that people pleasing is one of my weaknesses. I don't want to let anyone down. The disease to please.

This year has been a year of incredible personal growth for me.. I've learned so much about myself, the good and bad, but it wasn't until recently that I noticed the repercussions of my disease to please. My husband and children were the ones making the sacrifice. It was no longer just my sacrifice. The anxiety of letting people down or sacrificing the wants and needs of my family was wearing me thin. I couldn't do it all. I had to make a choice.  The sad thing is, it took me months to make the choice. MONTHS. But I did it, I made the choice I needed to make. For the first time in a long time, I was true to who I was and chose my family. I chose to take my time back, to be the wife and mother my family deserves. The tormenting anxiety to be and do everything is gone. I am free, free to spend as much time with my boys as I want, to close the world down and invest in my marriage, to put my time into the things that I love and am called to do. I just wish I had done this months ago.

My choice wasn't the popular choice. I've lost friends and the life I thought I wanted but I'm here and I'm smiling because I had the courage to stay true to who I was. Today I want to share this experience with you to remind you it okay to say no, to stop doing things simply to please others. We have to stay true to who we are. We have to remember what is most important and we have to learn the difference between a yes and the best yes. Sometimes our best yes is a simple "no thank you". God made each of us beautiful, unique and gifted, but he didn't make us superwomen. As we get closer to Christmas with the demands of parties and obligations lets not forget that God didn't design us to be everything to everyone. He made us precious mothers, daughters and friends. Lets not over extend ourselves in an attempt to please everyone, instead lets choose to stay true to who we are and invest in the things we love most, even when it's not the popular choice. Stay true to you my beautiful friend. There is freedom in being the unique and beautiful woman God created you to be!

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