Perseverance.
The word leaps off the page. I close my eyes and turn it over in my mind.
“I need it, Lord,” I half pray, half remind myself.
See, I have been thinking about the opposite of perseverance, too. It creeps in little by little each day, till I find myself planning my escape. Just give me a Starbucks hazelnut latte please and about 5 hours of mindless magazine gazing and people watching.
One thing I have noticed is it is contagious. This desire to quit. When you wear it all day long it infects your family. Some days, I find it staring back at me in the eyes of my 7 year old. She doesn’t want to do math. She would rather quit. The thing is, I don’t want to do it either. Maybe she could join me for people watching as Starbucks.
James 1:4 says, “Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete not lacking anything.” Clearly, it is a work that needs to be finished in me. The goal, as with my 7 year old, is that I will be mature and complete and not lack anything. I close my eyes again and pray it be so.
Where do you find it? Perseverance on your need to escape days? Does Starbucks call you too? Would you like to meet me there?
I’ll post part 2 on Perseverance (say that 10x’s fast!) next Wednesday and part 3 on Friday. Please join me next week and have a blessed weekend.
{Part 2 :: click here}
I struggle in this area, and often bring my children along with me! I have tried to start visualizing what I’m giving up when I quit. Whether it is a goal for my home or business, it can help me re-prioritize. The trick is giving up the immediate gratification for the longer term goal.
Oh Tammy that is so wise! Thank you for sharing what you have learned in the work of it! Praying for you right now, as you prepare to move to Seattle!
I dream of Starbucks…often 🙂
Just knowing that quiting is not an option helps. And verses. And knowing I am not alone.
Looking forward to the rest of the series.
That is so good Katie to remind myself quitting is NOT an option. Just saying that out loud helps! Thanks for being here today! I’ll post part 2 on Wednesday!
This is such a great post, thanks so much for sharing!
(I also, loovve Starbucks!)
Thanks Kate! I’m so glad you stopped by! How can we not love a place where they take our order? 🙂