Over the last week, I had the same conversation with about five different people. The dialogue beings with discussing family, priorities, work, and such. It doesn’t take long until we find ourselves trying to figure out what is the best for our families.
I have come to the conclusion that good is the enemy of the best.
For example, on Saturday my husband had a leadership conference he was supposed to participate in, but he chose to stay home because it was the only day this week that we were able to have uninterrupted family time. He chose to say no to what was good in order to say yes to the best. I talked with another friend this week who works outside the home, and she talked about the need to remember that she is a wife and mom first. She realizes that she might need to say no to some career opportunities in order to say yes to the best. And yet another friend of mine is single and we often talk about how she shouldn’t just date a good man, but rather, wait for the best.
For me, this thinking doesn’t come naturally. There are good things that I want to participate in and commit to; yet in doing so I am sacrificing the best. It burdens my heart when I have to say no to things and so I make excuses or come up with some rationalization for why I am participating in this “good thing.”
Sadly, however, it never fails that ultimately the best thing is what suffers when I choose that which is good.
Of course, I don’t have to say no to every good thing that comes along, but I do need to be more careful (and prayerful) to evaluate if it an opportunity is adding to or taking away from the best. In my current stage of life my best is limited to: daily time with the Lord, spending time with my husband, and investing in my children. I’m sure as seasons change so do “the best” and, save daily time with the Lord, no one’s life is a mirror of another’s so “the best” in your life might look different from mine.
What is best in your life and what good things are actually its enemy?
As this conversation took place several times recently, I came to the conclusion that we all find ourselves struggling to say no to the good things in order to say yes to the best. What a great thing for us as wives to be on our guard about. Going a step further, what a great prayer for us to pray for our husband as well. We can pray that instead of a desire to climb the corporate ladder or to perfect his golf swing that he would desire to spend more time at home dating his wife and leading his children. Not all husbands are work-a-holics or avid golfers, but all of our husbands have ambitions and hobbies that might interfere with the best if not guarded carefully. Let us pray for them to be wise and mindful regarding what is good and what is truly the best. Praying that our husbands only choose God’s best for their lives in every area!
What People are Saying