Are You Clear as Mud?

Have you ever taken The Five Love Languages test by Gary Chapman? If you have, you know what language speaks most to you.

• Acts of Service
• Physical Touch
• Quality Time
• Receiving Gifts
• Words of Affirmation

Paul and I took these tests years ago and his were very clear. Mine? Well, mine were about as clear as mud.  

I scored a three way tie between Acts of Service/Words of Affirmation/Receiving Gifts. There was no first place language my best-buddy could lean on. Which removed a clear coarse of action he could take to remedy any relational speed bumps.

It’s a struggle for me to make up my mind–as you can tell. Now, imagine my poor husband, kids and friends when their lives bump up against mine. Pretty frustrating.

Yesterday, the web designer I’m working with asked me to take a test about my “brand”. There were TEN different topics I was being ranked in from “Transparency” to “Teaching”. Her question for me was to write down the top FIVE things I ranked highest in.

I scored a FIVE way tie. Yep, there were FIVE things that were exactly of the same importance to me.

Fretting over making decisions is as natural to me as breathing.

“I’ll have a skinny vanilla latte…no, make that a soy chai….wait..change that to a green tea with one pump sweetener…actually, what I really want is a nonfat mocha–but hold the whipped cream.”

Trying to find my “brand” is not my style. I’m as clear as mud when I need to  focus. There are some who have a “brand” without even knowing it. These gals are the ones who write about Jesus and nothing else, or the ones who LOVE to challenge their readers with organizational prompts or daily recipes.

I covet their clarity. 

Why is it painful for me to make a choice? I believe the underlying root is fear. Fear of the wrong decision has me in a strangle hold. What would life be like if I woke up and said “NO.” to fear? Fear is a deceptive foe. It convinces me I hold the power to make my life perfect with every right choice.

The Bible says, “All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.” Matthew 5:37  The truth is, when God is for me there’s LOTS of ways I can make the right choice. There’s nothing I should worry and fret about. As long my choices are for good then I really should let go of the rest. And, even if my choice makes a big belly flop God promises all things work out for the good–for those who love Him.

We need clarity when we are in relationships. A husband needs to know his wife makes a choice and sticks with it. Children need a mom who can cut a path and stay on it. 

How about you and I make a pact? Let’s take that next step together. Indecision is the enemy of progress. I refuse to be held captive by “choices” today–I choose to choose something, anything that will put my heart and feet in action.