Hello, My Name is Wendy and I am a Recovering Addict

I wanted to share this old fable with you that I came across recently.

An elderly man who was traveling with a boy and a donkey. As they walked through a village, the man was leading the donkey and the boy was walking behind. The townspeople said the old man was a fool for not riding, so to please them he climbed up on the animal's back. When they came to the next village, the people said the old man was cruel to let the child walk while he enjoyed the ride. So, to please them, he got off and set the boy on the animal's back and continued on his way. In the third village, people accused the child of being lazy for making the old man walk, and the suggestion was made that they both ride. So the man climbed on and they set off again. In the fourth village, the townspeople were indignant at the cruelty to the donkey because he was made to carry two people. The frustrated man was last seen carrying the donkey down the road. 

 I loved this because its a cute story about what great lengths we will go to please others.  Why do we do that?  You all know that you sign up for things you dont want to do, but you do it anyways-because some Alicia Awesomesauce might look down on you if you don't volunteer.  Listen to what Nancy Reagan had to say and JUST SAY NO which quite frankly people approval is an addiction- a very exhaustive one at that.  Who cares what the Jones' are up to- they are probably a hot mess just like the rest of us. 

I am sure that I am speaking to myself in this alot because there are family members that I would just about swim through a lake of fire to have them notice me or acknowledge what I do.  I definitely can say that this was a huge struggle for me at one time. However, as I began having a better understanding of who my God was/is, I was able to put down the people I had on such grandiose pedestals. I am not saying that having a mentor or someone that you look up to is a bad thing.  I am however, saying that when you desire approval and are willing to sell your belief system for them, its time re-evaluate. (Romans 12:1-2, James 4:4)

Bottom line:  Be you, because someone else is already taken!

Be blessed wildly people!

xoxoxoxo Wendy

An  elderly man who was traveling with a boy and a donkey. As they walked through a village, the man was leading the donkey and the boy was walking behind. The townspeople said the old man was a fool for not riding, so to please them he climbed up on the animal's back. When they came to the next village, the people said the old man was cruel to let the child walk while he enjoyed the ride. So, to please them, he got off and set the boy on the animal's back and continued on his way. In the third village, people accused the child of being lazy for making the old man walk, and the suggestion was made that they both ride. So the man climbed on and they set off again. In the fourth village, the townspeople were indignant at the cruelty to the donkey because he was made to carry two people. The frustrated man was last seen carrying the donkey down the road.  -anonymous