I have been overwhelmed lately. Being overwhelmed always comes with its fraternal twin, frustration, and their younger sibling, guilt, in tow. Okay, enough of the family analogy. You get the idea. I feel like I have more to do than time to do it. I feel like I am always letting someone down or not doing a good job.

Gene and I are in a busy season. Gene, myself, and Caleb’s family are helping Kelsey and Caleb renovate their new home and care for Harvey while his parents work on the house. Also our family is having a staycation in July. For one week all the kids will be home and we will vacation like we are on vacation. I have many things I want to do to turn the home the kids grew up in into a magical lake cabin. These two projects are enough, but when I add in the rest of things that fill up my calendar I have the above-mentioned priorities get squeezed.

This morning on my porch swing when I talk to God and He talks to me the answer came to me—Say no more. Do not add a single thing to the next four weeks.

The idea was liberating and scary at the same time. Will my friends understand? What if someone needs something? What if. . .

The reality is someone does need me—my family. Kelsey and Caleb will never have another first home that they renovated. Our family vacation is the essential time for relationship building for our family. At no other time of the year are we together for this length of time. We have never done a staycation. I want it to be special.

So everyone else will have to wait until mid July.

Here I go! What do you think? Do you need to say no more as well?

Brenda Garrison is an author and speaker who empowers women with the confidence to live their calling. Brenda is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science Degree in Ministry Leadership with a Concentration in Women’s Ministry at Moody Bible Institute. She and her husband, Gene, are the parents of three young adult daughters and live near Metamora, IL.