Note: On Tuesdays, you can find me at Your Daily Tripod, owned by my friend TonyD. A longer version of the post below appears there.
I was going through my litany of writing and speaking to-dos recently at dinner with a friend. I think she was trying to be helpful when she asked, “Now what do you regret having said yes to?” the implication being that I might learn from that in avoiding overcommitting myself in 
the future. She looked shocked by my answer:
“Not one thing.”
There was no #humblebrag intended in my end of the conversation; I truly could not do what I’m called to do without the Lord’s direction and support. Maybe you’re in the same boat with family and work and ministry obligations, with no regrets over your yesses. But I’m starting to think that part of exercising those God-given gifts involves more doing and less talking about how busy we are. After all, it’s not like God gives a singer a beautiful voice, and then tells her it’s perfectly fine to share it once a year or so. It’s not like God provides someone with the heart of a parent, and then says it’s only necessary to be a loving father or mother on alternate Tuesdays.
No, our gifts, different as they are, were made to be exercised—with no excuses or complaints. And so, may we trust Him as we set about using them, even when that activity begins to squeeze pride, greed, and the rest out of us, leaving only room for love and trust.
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