It’s the superwoman syndrome that has gotten me in trouble on more than one occasion I assure you. And I’ve been that way since childhood. I have the mentality that for every cause I can surely come up with an effect that will make it “all better.” What this syndrome has often lead to is me being out of the will of God. There was a time in my life that if anyone invited me to be on their committee I accepted and was their “go to gal.” If it needed done I’d do it! I didn’t care how hard or long I had to work, it would get done. I was a dream member for “most” everyone. For control freaks I was nightmare. My get it done attitude often times put the cart before horse, or left out key components for success. What I have discovered through much intensive therapy with the Lord is there must be a method to my madness, or it is but chaos.
Proverbs 3 1My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments: 2For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.
Through much trial and error I’ve learned before any decision is made, and I mean any decision, I need to discuss it with God. I am not a clinical psychologist or physician, but I don’t think you have to be to determine that one of the top disease makers in the world is stress. And stress is almost always derived from poor decision making on someone’s part and most likely the breaking of a commandment!
Commandments aren’t tricky. They’re pretty much cut and dry: “thou shalt not.” If thou shall, you can expect trouble. The flip side of that is verse two, long life (health) and peace (which is great wealth, non-monetarily speaking of course). Are you now asking what this has to do with the Superwoman syndrome? Commandment number 1: Have no other gods before Me. A god is anything that we put before God.
Taking on any task in life without the guidance of God is saying that you don’t need His advice. Ouch! The cause and effect that I thought I could have was true; but the effect was not always good. Case in point: As a young mother I was involved in everything in the community. And this is not to discourage volunteerism, which is needful in every community, but I took volunteerism to a new level. Finding a balance in life is necessary. God intended us to help others outside our homes, after all, Christ gave another commandment, “Love thy neighbor.” But we’re not to love our neighbor at the expense of our family or our health. There are boundaries that we need to set as a family, and in prayer seeking His guidance. I fully believe that our lives are a ministry. I’m not a pastor or a preacher, but I’m a minister to every life I touch.
3Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart: 4So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man
Mercy and Truth should begin within you. If you’re honest with yourself, you know when you’re pushing yourself too hard. If you’re like me, a worn out you is a grouchy you and serves no one well. God said to bind mercy and truth upon your neck and write them on your heart. They’re like your cape and crest across your chest! With mercy and truth for all concerned in our lives, we can become super women! We find favor and good understanding with both God and those in our lives. How wonderful is that! And what peace it will assuredly bring into our lives.
5Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. 7Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
Being superwoman doesn’t mean you have to save the world. The world is not ours to save, Christ did that on Calvary for those who come to His cross and accept it. Being superwoman is being all that God desires you to be; not the rest of the world. What I learned in my superwoman years is that the end result was letting everyone down. It’s just too much. So… this Mother’s day, whether you have children or not, take off your cape. Put on truth and mercy. Start by being honest with yourself. We take on too much. Have mercy…