"Did you save room for dessert?"
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Ah, the famous line from the waiter/waitress after you've stuffed yourself like the turkey on Thanksgiving - to which my answer is always a sad no. Although, give me a couple hours and I'm sure to scarf down a quick cookie or brownie before bedtime just to get my fix in.
Or, maybe you're the responsible kind who only eat the portions you are supposed to, take a doggie bag, and happily agree to dessert at the end. If so, I kind of envy you...and I kind of don't because I'm cheap and those desserts are usually like $8 and could feed a family of 10. Oh, and those buffet lines! Sweet mother of pearl. I am HORRIBLE at portions (hence the fact that I had to do a workout program with portion control, lol), so places like Golden Corral and the Chinese buffet really baffle me as to how I'm supposed to fit all of that on my plate. Thank goodness for plate #2.
The sad truth is that this overflowing plate directly mimics my plate in life. I am the world's worst person at saying "no" - like, seriously, do not invite me to something unless you want me to show up with bells on. If I'm bad at portioning my food, portioning my time is like trying to simultaneously breathe and move in Hot Yoga (still haven't figured that one out). I fill my plate with everything under the sun, and don't get me wrong, many of them are good, GOOD activities. I love volunteering, fitness coaching, teaching, Netflix binging, Bible-journaling, cleaning, figuring out the next perfect shade for my nails, spending time with friends, date nights, family phone calls, pondering my next blog entry and never writing it, playing with the dog, and so on.
But you know what, you can fill up a food plate to overflowing with fruits and veggies, and you still may not be eating healthy. It's all about balance, in food and in life.
Balance. You know I really hate that word because for the life of me I just don't really believe it exists. Then again, standing on one foot was never my top talent for this graceful clutz - I digress.
Regardless, I'm not doing something right because I never seem to have time for dessert (you know those best parts of life). My grandfather used to say that you never know when the Lord is coming back, so eat dessert first....and I think he has a point.
If I fill my plate with all these activities, obligations, and other good stuff, then I run out of room for dessert. I'm stuffed. You know that feeling you get during Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays where you've eaten so much that everyone is in that one big lull, lethargic attitude? If we're not careful that becomes our life attitude when the plate is too full. Then, we miss out on the best parts - dessert. What would be your dessert?
For me, it's my marriage, both physical and spiritual. I chose to spend my life with my husband, but most days it also feels like I'm choosing to not spend it with him (when I pile everything else on my plate). I chose to follow Christ and be His bride, but I'm also choosing to not give Him a place. Doing things for someone is not the same as spending it with them. I fill my plate with stuff, and then I cram down my dessert (time with God and husband) right before bed.
I don't think our husbands or our Heavenly Father want our lethargic leftovers from a day filled with overeating on the things of life. So, as we get ready for another week, I leave you (and ME, oh boy am I talking to myself here, first and foremost) with this thought:
It's okay to leave some things on the buffet line of life, and in the event that you find your plate too full, grab a doggie bag. Some things can wait for tomorrow; leftovers won't kill you. And for goodness sake, eat your dessert first!
Until next time...
