An ancient story is told about a father and son who were walking along a road one day with their donkey. Soon they met a man who told them how foolish they were to walk when they had a donkey that could be ridden. So the father and son hopped on.

They hadn’t gone very far when another man criticized them for both riding on the donkey. They were too heavy for it, he contended and were being inhuman. So the boy got off.

It wasn’t long before a third traveler accused the father of being inconsiderate because he made his son walk while he rode. So the two switched places.

Soon they met another person who charged that the son was not being thoughtful of his father, who was much older than he.

When last seen, the two were trudging down the road carrying the donkey.

There’s this saying, “You cannot please everyone, so you gotta please yourself.” Whom do you try to please? If you listen to the crowd and try to dance to their tune, you will always be frustrated. If you are overly sensitive to the opinions and criticisms of others, you will end up carrying a needless burden of guilt and inadequacy. And if you try to please yourself, you will become egocentric and selfish.

That is why, as Christians, we seek to please God, not other people. We are to love God first with all heart, mind, and soul (strength). St. Paul wrote, “For me, to live is Christ!” Ultimately, our accountability is to God. “We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts” (1 Thessalonians 2:4).