Denial - Part 2

Typically, even before I started blogging, when I  have a thought running through my head, I can write about it and that's the end of it. This denial thing is proving to be a different story. Prior to publishing my last post, I had "The Professor" (aka my husband) read it and he exclaimed, "You can't just end with one post! You have to have a follow-up." So, here I am with post number two on denial.

As I previously stated, denying something like the laundry, your age, etc. doesn't make it go away or change. I have a tendency to fall back on the ole "out of sight, out of mind," but that doesn't work either. Every time I look in the mirror I am very aware of the age thing! Reality has to hit at some point. Most all of the time it is better to face the facts and deal with it.

However, there is some positive denial. As a parent, I have had to deny numerous things for the sake of my kids.  Just to name a few:

1. Deny going to the bathroom in peace. It never fails, someone always yells at me.

2. Deny myself  that last chocolate cookie (that I tried to hide and eat when no one was looking) to my favorite chocolate-lovin little man. That kid can smell chocolate a mile away!

3. Deny having the day to myself by homeschooling because I believe it is best for my kids. I would rather ship them off to someone else on a daily basis so I can watch Hallmark movies and eat those chocolate cookies without anyone knowing.

There is also that denial that God asks of us - denying yourself for the sake of Christ (you can see Matthew 16:24-27 as quoted in my previous post). What does that look like? It is different for every person, but it is something that we all must do IF we want to follow Christ and be whom he created each of us to be.

For me, some of it looks like:

1. Living in Houston because I desire to support my husband and that is where God has placed him when I would rather live in a small quaint town and spend my days watching Hallmark movies.

2. Homeschooling instead of sending my kids to a public/private school so I could watch Hallmark movies.

3. Helping out a friend when I would rather be at home watching a Hallmark movie.

4. Anything that is my own selfish desire (i.e. watching a Hallmark movie) that prevents me from being and doing what God has called me to be and do. That can actually change on a day-by-day basis.

For others it can look like giving up all material possessions and moving to a foreign country to love on other people. It can be serving in the children's ministry at church when you would rather go to church and just sit. It can be cooking and delivering a meal to a sick friend. It can be disrupting life as you know it by fostering or adopting a child. The list can go on and on.

The point is Jesus tells us that in order to follow Him and be whom He created us to be that we must deny ourselves. In the book of Matthew, Jesus tell us:

"He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it." Matthew 10:39

This denial thing is serious business! It's one thing to try to deny you are getting older and not be successful, but it is another thing to not deny yourself for the sake of Christ. It is only through the denying of self that we can truly be the person that God desires for us to be. Are you making the right denials? Only you can make that choice. I pray that you make the right one.

There is true JOY in denying yourself!

Tami