Strength..The Only Choice.

"You never know how Strong you are UNTIL being Strong is the ONLY choice."    

 

This quote speaks volumes in my life. This life we live is hard. No matter how you cut it.

 

"Aunt Nita, when does it stop being hard? When does it stop hurting?" Sarah cried.

"Sarah, I love you, and I am so sorry but it will NEVER stop being hard."

Sarah continued to talk about how if we are Christians why does God allow bad things to happen to us.

The million dollar question.

We can do everything right or close to it. We can be honest, upright, loving and obedient and this life with KICK YOUR TEETH in.

But the difference in living a hard life for Christ and living a hard life is we were never designed to go through this life separate from God.
 

He gives us the tools to get through.

"Aunt Nita, what tools does HE give us?" Sarah continued to weep.

He gives us our Strength: "I can do all things Through Christ who Strengthen me." Phil 4:13

He gives us Wisdom: "Trust in the Lord with all thine Heart and lean not unto thine own understanding." Proverbs 3:5

He gives us Stamina; "For those that wait on the Lord will have new Strength, They will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not be weary." Isaiah 40:31

He gives us Comfort: "For I reckon that the suffering of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." Romans 8:18

 

These are just a few tools.

 

I grew up watching my mom never getting stronger. "Mary Lou" self medicated on pill, drugs and alcohol. She never allowed herself to feel the pain. As soon as it started to hurt or when life began kicking she went back to self medicating.

 

Today I thought I would take the easy route. I decided that I would do 7 miles easy around the track. After a half hour of running I felt to comfortable. In the back of my head I knew that the only way to get faster is to run faster.

This meant SWEAT more. BREATH heavier. Feel more PAIN.

I argued these thought in my head until a guy came out of nowhere and passed me!

Then  it was ON AND POPPING!

As I sped up doing fartleks every 100 meters I felt my cool down was averaging faster than my initial easy run pace.

I was getting through it. I was breathing heavy and not allowing mediocrity to settle in.

I finished my 7 miles strong and confident.

 

It felt good to push myself just a little bit harder.

Yes, it hurts but the outcome out weighs everything else. Somewhere down the road I am going to need if not the Physical tools of running in pain but also the MENTAL tools that I have earned on these hard runs.

 

Make being STRONG the only choice. Allow yourself to FEEL the pain. Pain HURTS. But in this life we are going to have hurts, hang-ups and hardships till our last days.

I am not sure if I was able to help my niece, Sarah. Her tears pull on my heart strings.

I am not a masochist. I do not like Pain. But I know that life requires up to endure it.

 

 

Looking back in time I wish I had been able to be a support to my mother. She had no support to help her in her journey.  

Pain can be endured a little better with love and support.

 

RUNDOWN:

Distance:7.1 miles

Pace:8:24

Time:59.45

 

CONGRATS to Michelle B! She won the contest with the most miles on a TREADMILL: 17!!
I will be sending her out a fun NYC care package!

 

 

 What tool has helped you the most? Please share.

Anita