Wow! One day things seem to be great and the next challenges are everywhere. But its not in the challenges that matter as much as it is how you deal with them that really makes you into the person the Lord wants you to become!
Shaniah, text me today while she was on her way to the swim meet and informed me she was quitting swim! She said she was sick and tired of being signed up for events that she has never done before and are way to hard for her! She said the other kids get easy events and don't even have to try.
I listened to her frustrations and told her to talk to her coach about it. She said her coach won't listen to her and does what she wants to. I then got very frank with my daughter and said, "Well honey, you have a choice to make, yes, you could quit, give up, and never go back, or you could suck it up, and do your best.!" I told her when times get tough we can't just give up. I was hoping she would remember the Never Give Up lesson I taught last week in young women's.
I also reminded her that her older sister had to swim the 500 free (which is s 20 lap race) just like she was signed up to do today. Shaniah was really worried because she has not practiced for the past five days because of the Thanksgiving weekend and she was terrified of having to swim 4 very hard events.
As parents our first thoughts are to want to rescue our children but if we want them to grow both physically and spiritually stronger we must not protect them from the difficulties of life. They must go through hard things so that they can gain the confidence they need to be ready to face head on their next hurdle in life!
When I arrived at the swim meet to watch her I was wondering if I would see her in her school clothes waiting for me to take her home. I went in and sat down to watch the meet. As I did I was super relieved to see her warming up in the pool. She came over to me after warms-ups and told me she asked her coach why she puts her in for all the hard events at the meets. Her coach told her it was because she has seen Shaniah and how hard she works and knows she can do these hard events. Her coach told her she was a beast and knew she could do it.
I was so thankful that her coach inspired her to stay and swim and that Shaniah did not give up and quit today!
I know there are many days we all want to quit. Whether it be a job, school. sports, or even health problems, I know we must be patient, work hard, and never give up! If we lose hope in our ability to conquer the difficulties in life then how do we ever grow and become stronger and more able to accomplish the next hardships in life! Remember don't quit but instead conquer!
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