This is a picture from the window beside my seat on a flight today. As we landed, I was able to watch the wheel come out of the wing and into position. As we touched ground, the wheel immediately started spinning, helping us reach a safe stop before we taxied to our gate.
That's all the wheel is designed to do. After the plane takes off, it goes back up into the wing, out of sight and ready to deploy once the plane is ready to land.
This got me thinking.
As people-helpers, we have responded to the call to help meet the needs of other people. Sometimes, we find ourselves trying to meet EVERY need of EVERY person who crosses our path. Soon we become exhausted and spread too thin. We begin serving outside of our gift mix. We try to meet needs of others when we're not equipped to do so.
This leads to burnout, irritability, and disillusionment. We are better when we stay close to within our gift mix, meeting the needs of those who we are called to help. We cannot be all things to all people all the time. Just like the airplane tire has a specific function to help a plane land safely, we are designed to serve those needs to which God has called us to meet. When we get ahead of God, we are in trouble.
What needs were you called to meet? Are you serving within that calling? What boundaries are keeping you safe from burnout?
Follow God's plan for your life and you'll remain Serving Strong!
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