When I was in middle school I was a little
overweight. I loved being active and I
was above average in most sports and activities, but there were some goals that
were just too difficult to achieve. I
remember dreading the end of the semester because I knew in our gym class we
would be testing each of us on how many chin ups we could do (I could do
exactly zero) and if we could complete a ten minute mile (I didn’t understand
why we needed to run a mile).
Most of my friends didn’t have any trouble with completing
these tasks. Many of them were doing
double digits chin ups and easily were running an eight minute mile. But because of my delayed physical
development I wasn’t able to reach these goals or match these marks. I remember my parents encouraging me to do my
best and just give it all I had. My
parents were always a positive force in my life and encouraged me to rise to
any challenge. To my parents it didn’t
matter if I did a chin up or was faster than a stop watch, what mattered to them
was that I did my best and I finished strong.
The author of the book of Hebrews has a similar
message of encouragement for us:
“Therefore,
since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off
everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race
marked out for us” -Hebrews
12:1
If your family is anything like mine then this time
of year can be completely overwhelming.
School is winding down, summer sports are gearing up, and it seems like
every weekend is filled with a wedding, holiday, birthday or bar mitzvah. In the middle of all of the coming and going,
it’s hard to find time to even breathe let alone focus on the things that we
know we should be focusing on.
It may seem like it’s impossible to do. And this month, you may have the very real
goal of just surviving and making it to the summer. Between your schedule, financial issues,
marital stress, health scares, and just everyday problems, it’s easy to feel
weighed down and trapped by your circumstances.
And when you feel totally overwhelmed, it’s tempting to just throw in
the towel and quit. It would be very
easy to and understandable if you just gave up.
But don’t.
As a parent you have the best and most important job
in the world, and while the enemy may be wanting you to throw in the towel, and
focus on lesser things. You must hear
these words ….
Finish Strong.
I know when you hear those two words; it makes you
think of two other words … “But, how?”
How can I finish strong when all of this other stuff is weighing me
down? How can I be the parent God wants
me to be with all of the responsibilities clouding my mind? How can I love these little people who won’t
take their hands off me? How can I
affirm and encourage the teenager who won’t listen to a word I say? How do I throw off everything that hinders me?
“Those
who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.” -Isaiah 40:31
Make the choice today to finish strong! Choose this month to put your hope and your
trust in God each day. Don’t be dragged
around by your schedule. Don’t let you
family be frenzied by the daunting pace.
Instead spend time with God, seek Him and allow Him to fill you up and
help you run the race He has called you to.
Allow Him to help you finish strong.
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