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The Pastoral Lens
The Best Kept Secret to Winning
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
I was having a conversation recently with a friend of mine, Cathy, who works in a longterm care facility. She has many years of experience under her belt and has "seen it all" in many respects. We got talking about those who live long lives, especially the ones who reach their 100th birthday and beyond. She recounted a few interesting -- and funny -- stories for me.One lady, an elderly relative of Cathy's, was quite good at knitting. When Cathy remarked one time about it she told Cathy how her efforts were winners at the fair every year. When Cathy tried to compliment her, she simply admitted that she won each year because nobody else was in the "100 and over" age category! Another lady was paid a visit by santa one Christmas season. With a jolly "ho, ho, ho" santa told the woman that he had known her since she was a child. The woman let 'ol St. Nick know that his claim was impossible since she was much older than he was.
I remember a story my mother-in-law used to tell about an elderly spinster in an Amherstburg nursing home many years ago. Not knowing about her family and marital situation my mother-in-law asked her if she had any children. The woman optimistically replied, "Nope, but I hope to someday!"
Sometimes you don't see the result of something until way down the line. You may start on a project and not see its outcome until years later. Parenting would be a good example. Raising godly children is not a microwave experience, but rather a slow cooker one, instead. As parents, we can get frustrated with certain things in the lives of our children while they are growing up, but if we can just endure through these challenging, and sometimes painful experiences, we can claim victory in the end. King David remarked in Psalm 37:25: "I have been young, and now I am old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, or his descendants begging bread." Jesus said in Matthew 24:13: "But the one who endures to the end, he shall be saved." Jesus was talking about the end times and the need to stay in faith until all of God's plans are accomplished. Nevertheless, there is something about enduring, lasting when others have dropped out of the race, that leads to victory. The swift and the strong don't win every battle. Sometimes the laurel wreath goes to the last man (or woman) standing. Who cares if the only reason you won was because nobody else was old enough to compete alongside of you. You win simply by making it that far.
So, if you're involved in something right now and you are feeling like giving up, think again. Victory may be just around the corner. It may be getting a kid through college, sticking with a workout program, finishing a quilt, learning to drive, or hoping to have grandchildren. Whatever it is, it's not going to happen if you take yourself out of the game. You can't steer a parked car. Keep going!
