My Soap Box

Are you a go-getter, get-it-done-er? Or are you a slacker, find-any-excuse-not-to-do-it, I'll say "yes", but not follow through-er?

I don't know why I get so bothered when people don't do their part. My issue mainly stems from people in the church, but I know we encounter both types of people in our everyday lives. By nature, or maybe by my upbringing, I am a go-getter, get-it-done-er. It is a blessing and a curse. I often feel a responsibility to pick up the slack from those around me that are not doing what is required or asked of them. This just adds to my already long list of personal responsiblities. Both Wayne and I are very involved in church. He is a member of the Bishopric (they preside over our congregation) and I am a member of the Relief Society Presidency (the women's organization). Between the two of us, we spend about 6+ hours a week in meetings, visit numerous families a month, prepare and teach lessons and give leadership to those around us. So, if I can go to my meetings every week, get my Visiting Teaching done, teach a lesson every 3 months, get my 5 children ready for church...by myself, and be ON TIME, preparea nd print 100 monthly newsletter, plan and organized activities every month, on top of the everyday stuff, why can't some people just do the 1 thing they are asked to do?

I admit there are times when I would rather watch a movie with the kids or go on a date with Wayne, but duty calls. Off to my meetings I go. I made a commitment to do all that was required of me when I accepted the call. And I also accepted the responsiblilities that Wayne has with his position, when I sustained him. There have been weeks when he has a crazy day at work, is on-call and is only home long enough to grab a plate of food on the run, before rushing out the door to do something else. I don't know how many times I've asked if he could cancel, just so we could see him for a minute, but know that is not a real option for us. We are not that type of people. We will do what we are asked to do; there are people depending on us to do our part!

So, if you are a slacker, find-any-excuse-not-to-do-it, I'll say "yes", but not follow through-er, take this counsel from some of our church leaders:

"No matter what your family needs are or your responsibilities in the Church, there is no such thing as “done.” There will always be more we can do." ~Elder M. Russell Ballard

"Your call has eternal consequences for others and for you. In the world to come, thousands may call your name blessed, even more than the people you serve here. They will be the ancestors and the descendants of those who chose eternal life because of something you said or did, or even what you were" ~Elder Henry B. Eyring

So, if you aren't doing your part and assuming someone else will pick up the slack, just how much is really getting done? I'll get off my soap box now...I just needed to vent.