a blessing when you have to learn to say “no”

Bless you, you big hearted one.
You who always show up or stay late or offer to bring dessert.
You who are the first to volunteer or drop off dinner or help them move.
(Really… when do we age out of helping people move? Asking for a friend.)

You offer a gift of love that doesn’t keep score
and time that doesn’t count down.

But things have changed.

The chronic pain or disease or grief or just life itself
leaves you with less.
Less to give. Less to offer. Less to pour out.
Dear one, hear me:
Acknowledging the less does not make you less.
It just makes you human.

Bless you as you ask for the help you so readily give.
May you be met with the same love that you’ve always poured out.
And may you find ways to give still
that fit the shape of today’s available spoons.
Not more, not less.
Just what’s right for now.

This blessing was inspired by my conversation with Melissa Urban on the Everything Happens Podcast. Listen to it here.