Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. [Galatians 6:9]
I live in a bedroom community for Washington D.C. Its name is Bryans Road, MD and it is in Charles County. We recently just got hit with a snowstorm - perhaps you heard about it :) The official reports vary, however, I will say that my back and front yard had over 30 inches of snow. It was quite impressive.
Here is a pic from my back porch.
Now, it continually snowed beginning Friday afternoon and it did not end until Sunday morning. It was the largest snow accumulation in a two day period that I ever remember being a part of [And I grew up in Michigan!]
Now, on Saturday morning it had accumulated about 15 inches. I went out to my driveway and decided to shovel the driveway. Needless to say, about ten minutes in, I wanted to quit. The snow was thick, deep, and overwhelming. But here is the thing - I knew that if I quit I would not be able to get out out of my house. I would not be able to traverse the roads later. I knew that if I quit I would eventually just have to go back and do it later. And if I waited until later the snow would simply accumulate more. In addition, I also knew that it was still snowing. So I also knew that after completing the driveway once, I would simply have to do it again tomorrow. However, if I waited until tomorrow, the snow would be 30 inches instead of 15.
So I did not quit. I just sighed, and kept digging. And with each scoop I simply said to myself, "slow and steady wins the race..." And 2 1/2 hours later I was done. One scoop at a time. One shovel full at a time.
I know it is a cliche to say, "the journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step" but the lesson for me from this big snowstorm is simple - this life is hard. Sometimes - sometimes - it just keeps snowing. Yet, if you give up there really is no point. It is going to snow whether you like it or not; so you just have to keep digging.
Now, interestingly enough, I was not alone in this. Everyone I know is digging, or has dug, out of their house. They see the immediacy of the need so they also do not quit.
Yet, too often I do not see this same, "stick-to-it" attitude amongst so many in other areas of life. It is almost as if people see the need in the immediate so they do what is necessary; but when it comes to the bigger things in life they do not see the need...so too often people quit.
I can remember going to college and thinking about all the classes still left to take. I can remember thinking of giving up. Yet, at just the age of 18 I would say to myself, "well...If I give up, what then? I still have to live life..."
I can remember wanting to give up in Seminary. I can remember that it was a rough slog - but I also can remember thinking, "If I give up, what then?" I was taught at a young age that giving up is simply not an option. I was taught to think about consequences. I was taught that life is hard so get a helmet and move on.
I can remember in High School when football double sessions began at 530am during the summer and I can remember wanting to give up. But thank God for my mother - she would drag me out of bed and not allow me to give up. If I committed to doing a thing - then that thing needed to get done.
And you know what? Sometimes when you complete a task you have to go right back and do it again. This morning I went back outside and shoveled the driveway again. Because it just kept snowing.
This weekend has been a lesson in life - sometimes it just keeps snowing and there is only one thing to do - dig.
Folks, just do not give up. It is not an option.
And here is the thing - Football in High school ended and I am a better person because of the teammates, coaches, and experience. I did graduate College and Seminary and I am so blessed to be a pastor.
Life is hard. Get a helmet. Keep digging. And the good news is this - God is real. When you want to give up, when you have had enough, when you call on Him - He helps. And when you fail - He will forgive. But get up. Do not give up.
Chris
I live in a bedroom community for Washington D.C. Its name is Bryans Road, MD and it is in Charles County. We recently just got hit with a snowstorm - perhaps you heard about it :) The official reports vary, however, I will say that my back and front yard had over 30 inches of snow. It was quite impressive.
Here is a pic from my back porch.
Now, it continually snowed beginning Friday afternoon and it did not end until Sunday morning. It was the largest snow accumulation in a two day period that I ever remember being a part of [And I grew up in Michigan!]
Now, on Saturday morning it had accumulated about 15 inches. I went out to my driveway and decided to shovel the driveway. Needless to say, about ten minutes in, I wanted to quit. The snow was thick, deep, and overwhelming. But here is the thing - I knew that if I quit I would not be able to get out out of my house. I would not be able to traverse the roads later. I knew that if I quit I would eventually just have to go back and do it later. And if I waited until later the snow would simply accumulate more. In addition, I also knew that it was still snowing. So I also knew that after completing the driveway once, I would simply have to do it again tomorrow. However, if I waited until tomorrow, the snow would be 30 inches instead of 15.
So I did not quit. I just sighed, and kept digging. And with each scoop I simply said to myself, "slow and steady wins the race..." And 2 1/2 hours later I was done. One scoop at a time. One shovel full at a time.
I know it is a cliche to say, "the journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step" but the lesson for me from this big snowstorm is simple - this life is hard. Sometimes - sometimes - it just keeps snowing. Yet, if you give up there really is no point. It is going to snow whether you like it or not; so you just have to keep digging.
Now, interestingly enough, I was not alone in this. Everyone I know is digging, or has dug, out of their house. They see the immediacy of the need so they also do not quit.
Yet, too often I do not see this same, "stick-to-it" attitude amongst so many in other areas of life. It is almost as if people see the need in the immediate so they do what is necessary; but when it comes to the bigger things in life they do not see the need...so too often people quit.
I can remember going to college and thinking about all the classes still left to take. I can remember thinking of giving up. Yet, at just the age of 18 I would say to myself, "well...If I give up, what then? I still have to live life..."
I can remember wanting to give up in Seminary. I can remember that it was a rough slog - but I also can remember thinking, "If I give up, what then?" I was taught at a young age that giving up is simply not an option. I was taught to think about consequences. I was taught that life is hard so get a helmet and move on.
I can remember in High School when football double sessions began at 530am during the summer and I can remember wanting to give up. But thank God for my mother - she would drag me out of bed and not allow me to give up. If I committed to doing a thing - then that thing needed to get done.
And you know what? Sometimes when you complete a task you have to go right back and do it again. This morning I went back outside and shoveled the driveway again. Because it just kept snowing.
This weekend has been a lesson in life - sometimes it just keeps snowing and there is only one thing to do - dig.
Folks, just do not give up. It is not an option.
And here is the thing - Football in High school ended and I am a better person because of the teammates, coaches, and experience. I did graduate College and Seminary and I am so blessed to be a pastor.
Life is hard. Get a helmet. Keep digging. And the good news is this - God is real. When you want to give up, when you have had enough, when you call on Him - He helps. And when you fail - He will forgive. But get up. Do not give up.
Chris
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