When Is Enough….Enough?

For your consideration……

When is enough…..enough? Wow what a question for us. I suspect that we have all dealt with this question in our personal, social and professional life for ourselves and for others.

As parents we often set and enforce “enough.” As a teacher, I often have to do the same. We know the expectations and have the authority to enforce them.

But when we get older, we don’t necessarily have the authority or at least we don’t feel like we do. For ourselves we often wait to see if the situation will turn itself around or someone else handles it etc. Ultimately, sometimes we have to say enough and take action. We decide. We have weighed the consequences. Rightly or wrongly we decide when enough is enough for us.

And that is the key to today’s message. “We decide.” It is often hard to stand on the sidelines and watch others struggle. It is easy to say…..”Why doesn’t she just…..?” Or we might say, “I wouldn’t put up with that.” We want to jump right in and fix things for people. It is a good initiative but is it ours to take on? Do they want us to? Or maybe they are all to willing to let their others be the “fixer” and we become enablers. With the best of intentions, we have stolen their learning lesson.

Enough is enough is an individual choice. We can not decide for someone else. It is hard to find a better example than in domestic violence. It is easy to stand back and say someone should leave. The choice seems so clear. Not so when we are walking in the survivor’s shoes and  have not had our self-esteem systematically torn to shreds.

Our message today is two-fold. Take personal responsibility for ourselves and our power to decide when enough is enough. Secondly, suspend judgment and let others decide for themselves when they have had enough.

That is the HOPE. And so it is.

Bit by bit, piece by piece, HOPE by HOPE action steps anyone can take…..

-Meditate/pray….ask….”What is my next step for my highest good and the highest good of all?”

-Get outdoors and take in at least 10 deep breaths.

-Drink lots of water.

-Take personal responsibility.

What made me smile yesterday…….

-More Christmas shopping.

-The Lions won.

-A warm blanket on a dreary cold day.

-Hearing from Alex.

Love, Blessings and Gratitude,

Rev. Chris