When I tell the three not-so-little Piggins or my ever-patient spouse that I will be 'right back' as I run into the local grocery or stop to visit a friend after church - they look at me, roll their eyes and comment something like "Yeah right back - more like in an hour!". And living in a small town, where you're likely to know nearly everyone in the grocery store, it's difficult for a social person to just ignore all the potential conversations you can have.
Matthew often has to work on Sundays and when he does, he leans over during the church service to remind me that we have to leave right after the service ends. There are often so many people that we need to chat with - especially since John's cancer treatment. It's not a rarity that we actually take two cars to church on Sunday - now that's pathetic since we live about a two miles away!
But come Monday, especially after a social Sunday, I will be a recluse. I won't answer the phone (and won't put on my reading glasses even to see who is calling!). I go into my turtle shell and hibernate. When we have had a particularly social stretch on the Piggins' calendar, I have been known to withdraw from the world for a day or two.
It's a fact that has bothered me lately. And then I pondered the reason - it's because I have such a big personality. I am an outgoing person. (I can almost hear the laughs as you read this, like this is something you didn't know!?).
My dear friend Lori seems to understand this more than most - she told me years ago how she goes into periods of seclusion because it takes a lot of energy being a big personality.
There was a time when I was actually kind of shy - honest. And then ninth grade and choir with Miss Combes and discovering Carol Burnett and Funny Girl - it was the perfect storm and it blew my shyness away. I discovered that I liked to make people smile or laugh when I was on the stage. As I became an adult, that need to be on the stage became instead the need to make others in the day-to-day, smile. And to genuinely make people feel good about themselves.
One of the gems I got out of the Rick Warren's "A Purpose Driven Life" is, I believe, that God wants me to use my big personality for His purpose. You won't find me prophesying - I'm just not comfortable or very good at quoting scripture. You will find me, though, reaching out with my Big Personality to those I feel need a smile or to feel loved. I love people and this big personality will reach out on a day-to-day basis to people in a loving way. And guided at all times by God and the Holy Spirit.
There was a time when I would try to temper my personality - I just wanted to 'fit in' or 'blend in' - but it never felt comfortable. And after reading, "A Purpose Driven Life" I knew why. God didn't give me this extroverted spirit to blend in or be a wall flower! So when I next have the need to hibernate, I will have to remind myself to get my big, fat personality out the door!
Matthew often has to work on Sundays and when he does, he leans over during the church service to remind me that we have to leave right after the service ends. There are often so many people that we need to chat with - especially since John's cancer treatment. It's not a rarity that we actually take two cars to church on Sunday - now that's pathetic since we live about a two miles away!
But come Monday, especially after a social Sunday, I will be a recluse. I won't answer the phone (and won't put on my reading glasses even to see who is calling!). I go into my turtle shell and hibernate. When we have had a particularly social stretch on the Piggins' calendar, I have been known to withdraw from the world for a day or two.
It's a fact that has bothered me lately. And then I pondered the reason - it's because I have such a big personality. I am an outgoing person. (I can almost hear the laughs as you read this, like this is something you didn't know!?).
My dear friend Lori seems to understand this more than most - she told me years ago how she goes into periods of seclusion because it takes a lot of energy being a big personality.
There was a time when I was actually kind of shy - honest. And then ninth grade and choir with Miss Combes and discovering Carol Burnett and Funny Girl - it was the perfect storm and it blew my shyness away. I discovered that I liked to make people smile or laugh when I was on the stage. As I became an adult, that need to be on the stage became instead the need to make others in the day-to-day, smile. And to genuinely make people feel good about themselves.
One of the gems I got out of the Rick Warren's "A Purpose Driven Life" is, I believe, that God wants me to use my big personality for His purpose. You won't find me prophesying - I'm just not comfortable or very good at quoting scripture. You will find me, though, reaching out with my Big Personality to those I feel need a smile or to feel loved. I love people and this big personality will reach out on a day-to-day basis to people in a loving way. And guided at all times by God and the Holy Spirit.
There was a time when I would try to temper my personality - I just wanted to 'fit in' or 'blend in' - but it never felt comfortable. And after reading, "A Purpose Driven Life" I knew why. God didn't give me this extroverted spirit to blend in or be a wall flower! So when I next have the need to hibernate, I will have to remind myself to get my big, fat personality out the door!
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