No

“Say only yes if you mean yes and no if you mean no …” Matthew 5:37 (New Century Version)

No.

No.

No.

It’s one of the first words that babies learn to say and they say it without hesitation.

No. No. No.

This is one of the first and easiest words for them to not only say, but they mean it. If they don’t want to do something, they will say no. Offer something they don’t want to eat? That’s a No. They don’t follow it with an explanation or justification, their no stands on its own. They will still love you and adore you, but not hesitate to say no.

They get it.

How does one of the first words we learn to say and mean so easily change as we grow up. How does it become more difficult to say as we grow older?

One of my mentors was sharing about spiritual practices. She shared that she discovered the sacred practice of saying No. We got into a discussion in the chat when someone shared “The sacredness of saying no is that it makes room for our sacred yes” She shared about the liberation of being able to say No as a complete sentence. She is embracing the freedom of not having to offer an explanation or justification. The explanation is rarely for the other person, we do it for ourselves. It makes us feel less guilty for not granting their request.

Maybe we can learn from the beginning and the wisdom of children. They remind us that no is one of the first and easiest words that we learned to not only say, but they mean it. If they don’t want to do something, they will say no. Offer something they don’t want to eat? That’s a No. We don’t follow it with an explanation or justification, their no … our no stands on its own. You can still love and care for your loved ones, but not hesitate to say no.

Practicing my No,

No

No

No

Sheila