Only One to Please

I came across a funny blog today and I want to share an article about people's common mistake of trying to please everybody.

Here is the complete text from that blog:

A Man and his son were once going with their Donkey to market. As they were walking along by its side a countryman passed them and said

You fools, what is a Donkey for but to ride upon?

So the Man put the Boy on the Donkey and they went on their way. But soon they passed a group of men, one of whom said

See that lazy youngster, he lets his father walk while he rides.

So the Man ordered his Boy to get off, and got on himself. But they hadn't gone far when they passed two women, one of whom said to the other

Shame on that lazy lout to let his poor little son trudge along.

Well, the Man didn't know what to do, but at last he took his Boy up before him on the Donkey. By this time they had come to the town, and the passers-by began to jeer and point at them. The Man stopped and asked what they were scoffing at. The men said

Aren't you ashamed of yourself for overloading that poor donkey. Making it carry both you, and your hulking son, is cruel!

The Man and Boy got off and tried to think what to do. They thought and they thought, till at last they cut down a pole, tied the donkey's feet to it, and raised the pole and the donkey to their shoulders. They went along amid the laughter of all who met them till they came to Market Bridge, when the Donkey, getting one of his feet loose, kicked out and caused the Boy to drop his end of the pole. In the struggle, all three fell from the bridge into the river, and drowned.

The moral of the story is this:  Don't try to please everybody because no matter how hard you'll try, you can't.  Although it is also good that we appear pleasing to other people, in our actions and in words, let us not forget that there is only One whom we should dedicate our time, talent and effort to please - our Heavenly Father.

For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;11strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously 12giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light.  (Colossians 1:9-12 NASB)

On final note, trying to please everybody else kills.  Striving to please God qualifies us share in God's inheritance.  Free yourself from being people pleaser and Live the Good Life.