January 21, 2009
What do you always get at the end of life and the beginning of eternity? You have 60 seconds to answer that question! Look away from this page and don't read any further until you have your answer.
Now, think about your first answer. Now think about your answer and relate it to your life. Your answer is the tunnel you live in, this tunnel vision was formed before you were age 4 or by the time you were 4.
My daughter, Heather and I pondered this question this morning and her answer was "get out" and my answer was "judgment". Both of our answers explain a lot about us and how we tend to look at the world. I cried when I heard my daughters and know where she learned it! By the time she was 4 years old her father and I "got out" of each others lives so many times I can't even recall the number. She learned that is what you do when something is too hard or too much to deal with.
I rebuked that lie and apologized to my daughter and set her free! Free not to quite and be a wimp but to preserver and to go the distance.
She has been struggling with being in Athletics this year. She does not have the body of an athlete and because she was always coming in last she believed she was a loser! Competition is a big thing in athletics, the message is we compete to win. She did not like competing because she was always last-"the loser". I helped her to see where her faulty thinking was and it changed everything for her!
I explained that everyone could not come in 1rst, I used the example of The Olympics. Isn't there only one Gold Medal winner? She wasn't a loser because she came in last, if she did her very best. She was only a "real loser" if she was giving 50% effort and came in last because of it.
I also reminded her that she had been given a gift by God, her height! She is a tall girl, taller then me and she is only 12! She could make a great center, but not necessarily a point guard. We all have strengths and that is what we must focus on. If she was comparing herself to that short fast point guard and was competing for that position then she was setting herself up to fail and would probably not do well. I explained Tony Parker was faster than Tim Duncan but together they made a great pair : ) She got it!!!
She sent me a text message, in between classes and said "she decided she was not going to give up yet on Athletics. She made a commitment to her coach and she was not going to be one of those wimps who get out of something because it's hard. She said I'm stepping out of my comfort zone...I'm going above and beyond. It's not too hard. Nothing is too hard with the help of God."
What a wonderful lesson from a 12 year old!!! Thank you God for providing us the wisdom to see through your eyes. I am so proud of my daughter! If she never makes the center position on the basketball team, Heather can live with the fact that she didn't quit and that she gave her very best and that is all that you ever ask us for. Besides, she is on Your Team and as long as she keeps you in the Center that is MOST IMPORTANT!
Thank you Lord for providing us the Grace to see where we are wrong and where you are leading us to continue on the path to Reach Our Full Potential!
By the way.....the answer to the question......is "E" : )
1 LORD, who may dwell in your sanctuary?
Who may live on your holy hill?
What do you always get at the end of life and the beginning of eternity? You have 60 seconds to answer that question! Look away from this page and don't read any further until you have your answer.
Now, think about your first answer. Now think about your answer and relate it to your life. Your answer is the tunnel you live in, this tunnel vision was formed before you were age 4 or by the time you were 4.
My daughter, Heather and I pondered this question this morning and her answer was "get out" and my answer was "judgment". Both of our answers explain a lot about us and how we tend to look at the world. I cried when I heard my daughters and know where she learned it! By the time she was 4 years old her father and I "got out" of each others lives so many times I can't even recall the number. She learned that is what you do when something is too hard or too much to deal with.
I rebuked that lie and apologized to my daughter and set her free! Free not to quite and be a wimp but to preserver and to go the distance.
She has been struggling with being in Athletics this year. She does not have the body of an athlete and because she was always coming in last she believed she was a loser! Competition is a big thing in athletics, the message is we compete to win. She did not like competing because she was always last-"the loser". I helped her to see where her faulty thinking was and it changed everything for her!
I explained that everyone could not come in 1rst, I used the example of The Olympics. Isn't there only one Gold Medal winner? She wasn't a loser because she came in last, if she did her very best. She was only a "real loser" if she was giving 50% effort and came in last because of it.
I also reminded her that she had been given a gift by God, her height! She is a tall girl, taller then me and she is only 12! She could make a great center, but not necessarily a point guard. We all have strengths and that is what we must focus on. If she was comparing herself to that short fast point guard and was competing for that position then she was setting herself up to fail and would probably not do well. I explained Tony Parker was faster than Tim Duncan but together they made a great pair : ) She got it!!!
She sent me a text message, in between classes and said "she decided she was not going to give up yet on Athletics. She made a commitment to her coach and she was not going to be one of those wimps who get out of something because it's hard. She said I'm stepping out of my comfort zone...I'm going above and beyond. It's not too hard. Nothing is too hard with the help of God."
What a wonderful lesson from a 12 year old!!! Thank you God for providing us the wisdom to see through your eyes. I am so proud of my daughter! If she never makes the center position on the basketball team, Heather can live with the fact that she didn't quit and that she gave her very best and that is all that you ever ask us for. Besides, she is on Your Team and as long as she keeps you in the Center that is MOST IMPORTANT!
Thank you Lord for providing us the Grace to see where we are wrong and where you are leading us to continue on the path to Reach Our Full Potential!
By the way.....the answer to the question......is "E" : )
Psalm 15 (New International Version)
A psalm of David.1 LORD, who may dwell in your sanctuary?
Who may live on your holy hill?
2 He whose walk is blameless
and who does what is righteous,
who speaks the truth from his heart
3 and has no slander on his tongue,
who does his neighbor no wrong
and casts no slur on his fellowman,
4 who despises a vile man
but honors those who fear the LORD,
who keeps his oath
even when it hurts,
5 who lends his money without usury
and does not accept a bribe against the innocent.
He who does these things
will never be shaken.
