Sometimes...

When I was 19, I went on my first church Women's Retreat. Generally you were considered old enough after high school, and I was invited on the next one that came up after I graduated. It was sort of a right of passage. It was a "mini" retreat, held at the home of our pastor and his lovely wife, Sonja, who is still one of my favorite people.

The speaker that weekend was Barbie R., a member of our church. I don't remember what exactly qualified her to be a retreat speaker (teens don't pay attention to that kind of thing), but she was a neat lady who clearly loved the Lord.

I don't remember much from that weekend. I don't recall the theme, or most of the lessons, even. But I do remember one thing Barbie said, which has stuck with me my whole adult life. I have found it applicable in my life many times, especially this past year or so.

She told a story of when she was trying to get her business off the ground. She was working from home, and finding that a challenge. Her neighbor came over every morning, after the school bus picked up, for a half an hour or so, and they had coffee and talked about their kids and various other concerns. They might pray together, or not, as they felt. But it was a time of restoration and getting ready to face the day. One day, the conversation was lively, and when Barbie looked at the clock, she was surprised to see that nearly 2 hours had passed.

She excused herself to her friend, and settled down to some work that she had really meant to get done much earlier, but she was stuck, somehow, and a little frustrated. She promised herself she would finish before the kids got home. No too long after she began, though, there came a knock at the door. It was another neighbor, also a friend, who was dressed in exercise clothes.

"Hi," the friend greeted. "I have the morning off. I'm going for a walk, it's such a nice day, and we haven't been able to talk in ages. I was hoping you'd come walking with me!"

Barbie stood and looked at her friend, whom she really HAD missed for the last few weeks, with their respective work schedules. It WAS a nice day, and she loved to go walking, especially with a cheerful friend. It was very tempting! And walking is good for you, right?

But the Lord nudged her, and she sensed Him say, "Barbie. You know that I love you and I want what is best for you. Sometimes... sometimes you have to give up what is good... for what is best."

Sometimes you have to give up what is good for what is best.

I remember little else that Barbie said that weekend. But I remember those words so clearly, and how they impacted me, and have stuck with me all these years.

These are not easy words to hear.

They are even harder words to live by.