What About ME? (Guest Post by Leigh Hudson)

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I am honored to introduce our new friend, Leigh Hudson.

What about ME?

Sometimes I confuse my needs with wants. One of my favorite movies, What About Bob, epitomizes this.

Bob Wiley, a neurotic, multi-phobic personality relentlessly pursues his psychiatrist, Dr. Leo Marvin, even to the point of finding out where the doc is vacationing. Poor Bob is certain he will die if he cannot maintain contact with his psychiatrist whom he feels is the only one who can help him. Upon their first visit, the good doctor shares with Bob his recently published book, Baby Steps. And Bob is baby-stepping his way to getting his needs (wants) met.

Bob finally tracks Leo down and begs Leo to help him. Standing outside the town grocery store, Bob implores Leo for help. “Dr. Marvin, I’m really bad this time. Check it out…I’m doing the work…I’m baby-stepping..I need…I need…gimmee…gimmee…” He basically wears down the doctor and through a turn of events ends up befriending the physician’s family, much to Leo Marvin’s chagrin. There’s so much irony in that movie that I won’t spoil the end for you if you haven’t seen it.

I’m a lot like Bob. I find myself thinking (and sometimes saying) the same thing…gimmee…gimmee…I need…I need. But how often do I actually need something? Or is it more of a want?

The scripture is clear on this issue. In Philippians 4:19, Paul says My God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. Notice he didn’t say some of your needs. He said ALL. And he didn’t say anything about our wants. I have to wonder if that’s because when Jesus is the focus of our lives we are satisfied with having our needs met.

One way I see this played out is when I visit an underdeveloped country. Ever been on a mission trip? It’s a great way to get a new perspective on needs vs. wants. Folks in Honduras or Haiti most likely aren’t thinking about what they will have for dinner. They are focused on if they will have dinner. People in Uganda or Yemen aren’t concerned about whether they are sporting the latest fashions but whether they will have clothes to wear. Folks in Burundi or Bhutan aren’t focused on mineral or spring water, they are just trying to find water.

I’ve been on three mission trips and each time I come back amazed at what I learn about me. The folks I’m supposed to be ministering to are ministering to me. They are thankful for what they have. I complain about not having enough. They are joyful because they love the Lord. I am frustrated because sometimes I love things more than God.

I mean, how many white shirts do I really need? How many pairs of shoes? Purses?

What would it look like for a group of people to fast for a season from buying any more stuff and give the money to an underdeveloped country? I wonder if we could do it. It sounds good in theory. But…I can hear the stores calling me…

My response?

Gimmee…gimmee…I need…I need.–

Leigh Hudson, LCSW

Therapist

Leigh HudsonLeigh received a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in 2001 and was in private practice for 2 years before joining Napa Valley Counseling Center in 2007. Prior to being in private practice, Leigh worked extensively with seniors and persons with disabilities.
As a Licensed Certified Social Worker, Leigh works with couples  in marital/relationship conflict, adults and teenagers dealing with depression, anxiety, grief and loss, substance abuse, eating disorders, same sex issues, PTSD, and issues related to physical, emotional and sexual abuse. In addition, Leigh works with women that have been sexually betrayed by their spouse. Leigh is married with no children.

We met Leigh working together on Jeff Goins’ launch team for his book “Wrecked”.

Leigh is working on her first book, a non-fiction about God’s redemption of her messed up life.

Visit her blog @ http://whiterthansnow.org/

Follow her on Twitter @ https://twitter.com/leighahudson

Follow her on Facebook @https://www.facebook.com/leigh.hudson.16

I love the Lord with all my heart, soul and mind and I love how he has taken the junk of my past and redeemed it and now turned that into my ministry and my vocation!

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  • http://www.eileenknowles.com Eileen

    I’ve been on three mission trip too, Leigh. I would have to agree with you. Each time I return, I am in awe of how God uses our desire to serve others to challenge and grow us. I love how the process of serving others and loving on others works.

    • leighahudson

      Every time I come home I suffer from “affluenza”

  • http://www.covenantfellowship.com Matt Price

    We do a good job of nodding our heads in agreement and mouthing along anytime we hear that “things” can’t bring us joy, only God can. A couple of years ago, while on a mission trip in Nicaragua, even the language we used to describe what we saw in the Nicaraguan Christians betrayed the shallowness of our beliefs. Over and over, I heard, “These people have nothing, and yet they have such joy!” We say that joy only comes from knowing Jesus, and yet we’re amazed when people who have nothing but Jesus have joy. Even with all of our stuff, our poverty is far greater than theirs.

    • http://iwokeupyesterday.com iwokeupyesterday

      thank you Matt for your response. :)

    • http://whiterthansnowdotorg.wordpress.com Leigh Hudson

      Matt, I become more and more convicted when I see so many with so little being so happy because they ONLY want Jesus. Thanks for your heart!