Are You an Approval Junkie?

I look out anxiously at the mass of people and nervously straighten my new dress. I sit in a row of other nervous students clutching sheet music or desperately wishing they were. I scan the crowd, my stomach jumping. There! In the third row from the front are my parents and my young siblings, proudly supporting my first piano recital. I relax just a little. Then, a nudge. It's my turn! Determined to get on with the inevitable, I fly across the stage as if projected from my seat. I give it my all, plunking away with abandon the all-too-familiar song. As soon as I hit the last note, I fly back to my seat, eager to get the attention on to someone else. As the next beginner student plods through his piece, I notice my teacher in the seat ahead of me jotting notes beside a list of names. I do a double take--beside my name. It says something about my playing too fast. I sit later during the awards ceremony as the trophies are given away and go home with a participation certificate.

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Year after year, that's all I received, a participation certificate. In my thinking, I had failed. My teachers did not approve of my performance.

Silly, wasn't it? It wasn't until recent years enjoying a piano concert that I realized that approval didn't matter. No, I couldn't play like the master on the stage. But I didn't need to. Though I love the piano, performing for the masses isn't my calling in life. I use my talents, limited though they may be, to awaken a love for music in beginner students and to accompany the congregation and some soloists at my church. I think that realization was the beginning of a new chapter in my life.

Does it matter if everyone approves of the way I live my life? No, that's not even possible, so why try to please anyone but my Savior?

Does it matter if someone doesn't approve of how I look or what I weigh? No, not at all, because my physical body is just the outer wrapping for my eternal soul.

Does it matter if my parenting style isn't met with approval? No, the only One I answer to is my Lord.

Does it matter if you don't like my writing? Well....maybe a little....After all, who else would I write to? (I guess I need a little more work.)


How about you? Do you seek the approval of people or the approval of the Lord Who loves You more than You could ever understand? Tell me about your journey to breaking "approval addiction".