Saying Yes Instead of No

Have you ever been asked to do something and said yes even though you wanted to say no?

Don’t lie.

I do it all the time.

And I bet you do to, too.

There is an obligation sometimes to say yes. To callings in church. To friends in need. To opportunities to serve. Don’t get me wrong. Sometimes we need to say yes even when we want to say no. These are opportunities to grow. Or opportunities to serve and think about others’ needs. But sometimes we only say yes because we feel like we “should”.

Well, I recently listened to a podcast that gave me permission to say no. Or to at least say yes with a “I’ll do it because you want me to and I care for you not because I want to” added.

I was able to apply this new knowledge recently.

Our stake is doing a pioneer trek this summer. Actually it’s tomorrow. I have negative feelings toward trek and for years hoped that our stake would never participate. Or at least not when my kids were old enough to attend. My reasons were super silly. . .I didn’t want to have to gather/make the period clothing they would need to participate. The idea of sewing freaked me out! I know that is a dumb reason, but it was enough to make me (kind of) wish that my kids would not want to attend. No such luck. As soon as it was announced, Braedi and Corbin were excited and wouldn’t let me talk them out of it. (I didn’t really talk them out of it. I’d heard enough good stories about experiences that I knew it would be good for them and they would enjoy it. But, ugh! the clothes!)

In the end, the clothes issue turned out to not be that big of a deal. With 50% off days at discount stores and borrowing from friends, we found everything we needed. Turns out packing all our supplies into a 5 gallon bucket is the tough part.

Now to the part where I said yes when I wanted to say no.

About a month ago, a member of the stake presidency asked Jonathan and I to be a Ma and Pa for trek. I actually told him no at first. I told him I didn’t want to go. Somehow he convinced me that we would be a great Ma and Pa. Jonathan had to figure out if he could get the time off work and while we waited I crossed my fingers in hopes that he wouldn’t get the time off. After about a week or two of figuring stuff out we said yes. I don’t think Jonathan was as hesitant as me. Last time trek came around he was serving with the Young Men and asked to go, but wasn’t able to.

I wasn’t excited and it showed in my attitude. We were behind schedule because we were asked with only 17 days to prepare. But at the last training, I began listening to the trek leaders talk about the purpose behind trek and my heart started softening. I heard them say that we were called not because we would be able to prepare well, but because we had ALREADY prepared. The spirit testified to me that saying yes was the right decision. I began praying for my unknown trek “family” and for Jonathan and I. I begged and pleaded that we would be able to provide a good experience and be open to inspiration and to know how to reach these kids.

I no longer dread the idea of going on trek. I’m not excited either, but I’ve put it in the Lord’s hands and trust that all will be OK.

Next week I’ll let you know how it went. . .