I did something yesterday that was way out of my comfort zone.

I said, “No”.

I was raised like most of you were. If someone needed something then you had better have a pretty darn good excuse for not being able to help. If someone, especially an older person, asked you a question, then you better answer the question.

And it didn’t stop there. This saying “yes” to everything infiltrated our fun lives too. Why do you think peer pressure works so well?

The person that uses the word “no” has become the new animal abuser. If you say no to someone, they usually react like you just said that you really liked putting a small piece of duct tape on every foot of a cat and got a kick out of watching it walk around. They pull out their Modestly Offended Results Over No (M.O.R.O.N. for short) cards and wave them all over the place like you just fed a Shitzu to a Polar Bear for fun.

No is not a bad word. It doesn’t have four letters, but it is sure treated like one. Say no to someone and you’ll probably get the same reaction as you just dropped the F bomb. They probably won’t say anything to your face, but they will tell the prayer circle about it…and those Christians can talk some shit. (Let’s call it like it is.)

But seriously, there are some very healthy reasons we should use the word “no” a lot more.

1. It reveals the true intent of the person asking something of you.
Think about this. Haven’t you had that M.O.R.O.N. come up and ask you for something that you don’t want to do and they are way too nice in the asking? They are your best friend because they want something from you and as soon as you are no longer of use, you will go back to being a nobody to them. Saying no to someone has a way of shining a light through the B.S.

2. Saying “no” to someone keeps the responsibility on them.
When a M.O.R.O.N. asks you to do something, they are asking you to share in the responsibility of the outcome. M.O.R.O.N.s  don’t want to be the only one responsible. Who would they be able to blame then? You are not responsible for anyone’s actions or outcomes except your own.

3. Saying “no” lets you focus on what God has called you to do.
I got in trouble by our Board Members the other day. They said I was trying to do too much for too many people and that I should empower others to help out so that I could concentrate on my gifts (See Exodus 18). It’s been nearly 6 months since I have written anything and that is because I have said yes to everyone and everything. Our Board (Save the Cowboy) has a 3rd degree black belt and a cowgirl that can work a long yellow hot shot like a symphony conductor….hence, I’m going to listen to them.

4. Saying “no” keeps you from accidentally stepping in front of something that God asked someone else to do.
I had a guy call me 15 minutes before Bible Study one Sunday night and tell me that there was a lady on the side of the road about 30 minutes from where I was. He said that I needed to go check on her because when he stopped, she seemed very upset. Her car wasn’t broke down or anything, she just pulled over and was upset. I asked him why he didn’t help her and he said that he was late for an appointment and so God told him to call me and I would help her. (I fell for it….and when I got out there, she was gone and I was an hour late for Bible Study.) I call what he did Passing the God Buck. Learn from my mistake.

5. Learn to say “no” to yourself before you walk around wielding it like a light saber in other’s faces.

If any of you want to be my disciples, you must deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow me. -Jesus of Nazareth

This is the catch-all of Christianity and Jesus knew what he was talking about. Saying yes to everything and everyone will get you in 1,000 times more wrecks than saying no will.

Finally….

Like anything, this is just a tool. We are supposed to love others and take care them. We are supposed to help out our fellow man. We should be giving and gracious to everyone. But the point is, do it in a healthy way. The devil knows you are supposed to do those things to and he will send M.O.R.O.N.s to trip you up as long as you will allow it to happen. Being bushwhacked by the devil and being a “good” Christian are two different things.

I think we could all be a little more No-It-Alls.

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