Thursday, September 14, 2017

The Art of Over Committing by Terri Weldon

Throughout the years I’ve tried my hand at a number of things, some I mastered, and many I didn’t. But there is one thing I’ve learned to excel at – over committing. Hmm, I don’t think I’m hearing anyone cheering.  Don’t feel bad, it doesn’t make me happy either. In fact, it’s been known to cause me a great deal of stress, something none of us needs added to our lives. 
So why do I do it? Well, all the things I committed to were worthwhile, even fun. And doesn’t Proverbs 6:9 say, “How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? When wilt thou arise out of they sleep?” Yep, it does. The problem with me quoting that verse is I was guilty of finding a Bible verse to justify my actions. Not smart. 

To live a healthy, well balanced life we have to make choices. My day job is a necessity, so I have to allocate a huge chunk of my time to the job. That means I can’t commit to so many evening activities that I can’t function at work or I end up sick from lack of rest.

Writing is dear to my heart. If I’m going to commit to being an author then I have to choose other activities to give up. That’s a real problem for me. I want it all. Do I sound like a two-year-old? Trust me, I’ve acted like one from time to time. 

Recently, I’ve come to the realization that I have to prioritize. Pick out the things that are nearest to my heart, the things God wants me to do, and start letting the rest go. Yeah, it is hard and if you were to ask the people closest to me how I’m doing at not over committing, well, they’d probably laugh.

I feel like I’m doing better. At least now I realize it is a problem. With that realization also came an awareness that by committing to so many “good” things that I never spent time on the things I love the most. That was an eye opener. So let me leave you with a different verse, Proverbs 16:9, “A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps.” Spend your time wisely, my friends.

If you have tips for keep balance in your life I hope you’ll leave a comment and share your wisdom with me. Trust me, I can use all the help I can get!

Pastor Jacob Thompson is in need of a director for the living nativity program and veterinarian Molly Kincaid offers to take on the job. The task involves far more than Molly bargained for, nonetheless she’d do anything to help out the man she secretly loves – even sew costumes or cast eight-year-old Wesley Simpson as an angel.
Jacob’s daughter Emma longs to have a mommy of her own, but the widowed pastor has vowed to never remarry, and isn’t ready to open his heart to love again. Molly dreams of filling the void in both their lives, but fears she lacks the necessary qualities to be a pastor’s wife.
As Molly and Jacob work together on the living nativity, their feelings for one another grow. Will Molly realize she is just what Jacob and Emma need in their lives? Can Jacob be released from his grief stricken promise? Could this unlikely duo prove to be a match made in heaven?

Terri Weldon is a lead analyst by day and an award winning author by night. Her novella The Christmas Bride Wore Boots won the best novella category in the 2016 Lyra Awards. She enjoys traveling, gardening, reading, spending time with her family, and shopping for shoes. One of her favorite pastimes is volunteering as the librarian at her church. It allows her to shop for books and spend someone else’s money! Plus, she has the great joy of introducing people to Christian fiction. She lives with her family in the Heartland of the United States. Terri has two adorable Westies – Crosby and Nolly Grace. Terri is a member of ACFW and RWA. She is a member of the Seriously Write Team (www.seriouslywrite.blogspot.com). Readers can connect with Terri at www.terriweldon.com
The Matchmakers
The Christmas Bride Wore Boots
Mistletoe Magic