Never Settle
I've been seeing a quote making the rounds on FB.
I know I could be reading too much into it, but it reeks of a stinky kind of feminism that I have very little tolerance for. The words "settle" and "just anything" seem very pointed to me in the above context. Like, "Girls, you need to break those glass ceilings otherwise you're settling."
I mean, wouldn't
be just as insightful and inspirational? If not more so?
Maybe it's because I'm a #boymom. Maybe it's because I'm a sahm. Maybe it's because I'm a homeschooling mom. I don't know. It just makes me sad and I feel like it's kind of missing the point.
I think someone else said it better.
Here's what I think:
If you want to tell your daughters - or sons - something, tell them this:
There are a million and one ways to settle.
Personally, I want my boys to live lives that are in alignment with God's will for them. I want my boys to live lives that demonstrate His power and grace. I want them to discover their God-given talents and gifts and calling and live lives that are deeply fulfilling and purposeful and satisfying.
If this is what I want for my guys then I need to focus less on what they're going to do and focus more on who they're going to be. Because here's the bottom line:
If your specific calling requires that you get a certain level of education then pursue it.
If your specific calling leads to you being wealthy, famous, influential, or powerful, then so be it.
If your specific calling leads to impressive titles, big paychecks, recognition, and letters after your name then rock it.
But make no mistake. Don't be fooled. While these things are not bad things in and of themselves, by themselves they are empty.
All of the education, wealth, fame, influence, power, fancy titles, hefty paychecks, recognition, and letters are empty in and of themselves. They don't mean anything and they alone can never satisfy our souls.
When we're pushed into pursuing things that don't truly, deeply, personally matter to us, but are told should matter, then we just end up feeling hollowed out. We live lives rife with comparison, jealousy, bitterness, and hopelessness. We are constantly second-guessing ourselves and unable to live our lives all out because we lack confidence that that's what we're actually called to do. We're always looking at the people around us and seeing how we measure up. We desperately need recognition and validation that our way is the right way because that's all that we really have to keep us going. It's the only thing that quiets that persistent little voice that says, "But what if...?"
Talk about settling.
We were created for so much more.
Don't settle. Never settle.
"I can't settle for just anything. My daughter is watching me."
I know I could be reading too much into it, but it reeks of a stinky kind of feminism that I have very little tolerance for. The words "settle" and "just anything" seem very pointed to me in the above context. Like, "Girls, you need to break those glass ceilings otherwise you're settling."
I mean, wouldn't
"I can't settle for just anything. My children are watching me."
be just as insightful and inspirational? If not more so?
Maybe it's because I'm a #boymom. Maybe it's because I'm a sahm. Maybe it's because I'm a homeschooling mom. I don't know. It just makes me sad and I feel like it's kind of missing the point.
I think someone else said it better.
Here's what I think:
If you want to tell your daughters - or sons - something, tell them this:
There are a million and one ways to settle.
Personally, I want my boys to live lives that are in alignment with God's will for them. I want my boys to live lives that demonstrate His power and grace. I want them to discover their God-given talents and gifts and calling and live lives that are deeply fulfilling and purposeful and satisfying.
If this is what I want for my guys then I need to focus less on what they're going to do and focus more on who they're going to be. Because here's the bottom line:
People with purpose change the world.
People with passion change the world.
People who exercise their gifts and talents change the world.
People who are confident in their calling change the world
People who have vision change the world.
People with character change the world.
People who are teachable change the world.
People who love God and love others change the world.
If your specific calling requires that you get a certain level of education then pursue it.
If your specific calling leads to you being wealthy, famous, influential, or powerful, then so be it.
If your specific calling leads to impressive titles, big paychecks, recognition, and letters after your name then rock it.
But make no mistake. Don't be fooled. While these things are not bad things in and of themselves, by themselves they are empty.
All of the education, wealth, fame, influence, power, fancy titles, hefty paychecks, recognition, and letters are empty in and of themselves. They don't mean anything and they alone can never satisfy our souls.
When we're pushed into pursuing things that don't truly, deeply, personally matter to us, but are told should matter, then we just end up feeling hollowed out. We live lives rife with comparison, jealousy, bitterness, and hopelessness. We are constantly second-guessing ourselves and unable to live our lives all out because we lack confidence that that's what we're actually called to do. We're always looking at the people around us and seeing how we measure up. We desperately need recognition and validation that our way is the right way because that's all that we really have to keep us going. It's the only thing that quiets that persistent little voice that says, "But what if...?"
Talk about settling.
We were created for so much more.
Don't settle. Never settle.
16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. 17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit[f] of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. Ephesians 1:16-19
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