Perseverance

I am just like her.

Maybe that is why this behavior grates at my last nerve. I do it too. I arch my back or run off when something become the least bit difficult. I want it all to be easy…If I might fail or if something is difficult I have been known to not try. Often I don’t try things unless I know or think I know I will be good at them…

So when my precious child acts just like me and runs off yelling that it is too hard and she will never be able to do it, my heart rate increases, the hairs on the back of my neck stand up, and all the veins in my head bulge. It takes every ounce of self-control God has birthed in me to keep myself from yelling. Some times I yell. Other times through God’s amazing work, I speak truth in love.

These are teaching moments. Moments when God wants to teach me and wants me to teach her. When I submit to God and hear Him whisper in my ear.  I remember to tell her about perseverance and Sumo of the Opera (VeggieTale’s story about perseverance if you haven’t seen it, you need to). No one does everything right especially the first time. I talk of Michael Jordan, how he didn’t make his high school basketball team. Yet he was one of the best basketball players of all time. I think of how Kathryn Stockett, author of the book The Help (yes the book the movie is based on), was rejected SIXTY times. Yes sixty before she got a book deal. Perseverance.

When we as God’s children persevere, we don’t get an NBA ring or five that rust, nor do we get a book and movie deal that will be forgotten in a few years. No, we get something better. 1 Corinthians 9:25 says, “Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.”

Oh may we throw out the Easy Button…There isn’t one for a thriving relationship with God. Instead “let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” (Heb 12:1b)

So I continue counting things for which I am grateful.

562. Time with friends from out of town

563. Friends that sharpen me

564. My sweet husband sent me flowers

565. Singing Blessed Assurance with my little man as he raised his hands toward heaven

566. Praying with my three blessings

567. How my three kids love each other.

568. My husband’s laugh

569. The touch of his hand

570. His levity

571. Laughter with friends

572. Start of a new school year

573. Rodents in the classroom means no rodents in the home

574. Special time with my little man

575. My husband’s patience

576. Rest

577. Star Wars

578. Contacts

579. Electrical issues discovered before a fire occurred

580. God’s word

581. His Son who died

582. A yard for my kids to play in

583. God’s still small voice

584. Opportunities

585. Opening up and stretching out