I imagine that each of you reading this post today has a story to tell of something you’re doing (or enduring) that’s A HARD THING.
Really hard. Physically, emotionally, spiritually…
It may be a challenge to get out of bed in the morning, knowing the REALLY HARD THING will still be there, lurking like a terrorist, or enveloping you like humidity.
A friend of mine wrote a song with the lyrics: “Somedays faith means just tying your shoes.”
Ahhh, yeah.
This is a guy I see every day when I run a certain route.
I’m out of breath and I’m sweating like a horse and my feet and hips ache and I want sooo bad to stop. I keep trying to keep in mind WHY I’m doing this HARD THING. (cleanwaterforAfricacleanwaterforAfricacleanwaterforAfrica…)
Then I see this guy who must be so much more determined and braver than I am.
I have a lot more choices than he does. Maybe more choices than you do. How determined does he have to be to get out of bed in the morning? How hard is it for him to get a shower or go to the bathroom or fix his breakfast?
Maybe he (and you) play mind games like I do.
Just make it to the next crack in the sidewalk, or make it past the girl with the obnoxious bouncy ponytail who’s sprinting towards me, or keep running through the song that’s playing on my playlist – the one that’s supposed to rev me up like Rocky climbing the steps.
For everyone doing THE HARD THING today, I want to encourage you. You’re not alone. And you can take one more step. Just the one next step forward.
Make one phone call. Start the car to go to work. Forgive one more time. Say “no”.
Do what you can do. Trust God to do what only He can do.
People ask me what pace I run.
Me: Really slow.
Them (with a sympathetic, knowing nod of their head): Oh, so a 10 minute mile?
Me: Hmmm….um….no, not so much. More like 12 for anything over 3 miles.
Them: Ahhhhhh, ok then And they change the subject 🙂
I read a quote the other day in a running magazine:
“It doesn’t matter what happens between the starting line and the finish line. I just matters that you cross both.”
We’re all running marathons. We’re all facing BIG THINGS. And all that matters is that we press on. Take one step forward and then another. Eventually those steps add up and we’ll take the most important step to cross the finish line.
Maybe I can.
Maybe you can.
Maybe we can.
What does it mean for you to take just one step forward through your hard thing today?
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders us and the sin which so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus the author and perfecter of of faith” Hebrews 12:1
To be inspired by more “maybeIcan2013” stories by my friends Lynne and Steve, look here and here.
You can donate for clean water here.
Thanks for this post Laura. Nursing has been a much bigger commitment than I imagined, and I really appreciated this encouragement.
So glad it was timely, Kristin! Even good change can be hard and bring new challenges. I really appreciate your example and honesty – it will encourage others!
sharing this to my blog – thanks! Some days its exciting, isn’t it? Others, not so much. I keep trying different mind games . . . thanks for posting this. It’s not about how fast you run, it’s about the fact that you do it! Perfectionism & competitivism have lost their appeal for me in the last couple of year – if you’d like to see more on that, check out my blog http://www.SmartPeopleAreCoolToo.Blogspot.com – Steve Wiens is someone who inspires me, as well, and how I found this post. Peace & remember: right foot. left foot. Breathe in. Breathe out.
Thanks so much for sharing Jen! I love your honesty and cheer you on in your commitment to donate your hair! We’re in this together!
Just absolutely beautiful, Laura. I needed this today! Grateful for you.
Like you say, we’re in this together! Cheering you on!
Laura, my most recent “big thing” was walking a half marathon this weekend — the one I signed up for to make sure I kept up with training for the Monster Dash and didn’t procrastinate because it wasn’t until October. You’ll feel speedy compared to me — I averaged 14:58 minute miles — but it was a personal record for me, beating my old one by 5 minutes. Now I’m more excited for October. And I say it again — if I can do this, YOU totally can do this!
Wow! Hurray for you, Sandy!!! And thanks so much for the encouragement!