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perseverance

What is it with the "p" words that they are always filled with emotion? Perspective, promise, possibility, potential, and perseverance: all a viewpoint we strive towards, place hope inside regardless of reality, and struggle with on a frequent basis.

Can you tell I've been quilting this morning? I'm about four hours shy of having 1/5 of Bobby's quilt finished. Yes, sadly, you read that correctly. I've found a blogger in Raleigh who is not only a Christian, but also machine quilts. While reading and looking at all the beautiful work she does, I'm impressed with how much any hobby or activity requires a lot of practice (there's another p word!) and learning to master all the intricate techniques. In short, everything takes a lot of time.

Parenting (yep, another p word) usually demands a Mom or Dad sacrifice their own pursuits in the interest of the child and his or her development. We were laughing Sunday at how I had told Lydia we'd meet them at the hospital at a certain time, only to be there an hour later. I had forgotten how much longer everything takes when little ones are involved! It was a great reminder to send those upward thoughts on behalf of my friends who are parents. Their job is not a simple one!

Weight loss is another area that seems to be taking FOREVER! It's one of those "disciplines" where I find it's as much a battle of perseverance as it is a mental battle. Did someone say chocolate? Bread? Dr. Pepper? See, it doesn't take much for me to get off track in this area.

Devos. Yeah, those things we're supposed to do every day. It never fails that whenever I stop and think "I need to get this done." something sidetracks me before I make it to the dresser where my Bible and books are. Sad, but true. For seven years I faithfully did my devotions every day. Then for reasons I won't go into, I decided to switch things up and started attempts to have my Bible study time in the mornings. It has been a struggle for me ever since, even with trying to move it back to night. Perseverance.

Practice - whether it be the piano or the clarinet, practice time usually comes about because I have a piece I need to play, not a disciplined activity I do every day. And it shows in my playing.

Housework...do you ever feel like throwing up your hands and saying "What's the point?" We make up the bed only to undo it at night. We wash dishes and clean up the kitchen only to turn around and cook another meal. We sweep the floors, only to work outside and track in a ton of dirt (or mud from the rain). Housework definitely requires perseverance (or else a mental evaluation, I'm not quite sure which).

I've been reflecting on that verse "Don't be weary in well-doing for in due season you shall reap if you faint not." a lot today. I think that's why we persevere in things, whether it be our faith, a hobby, housework, or a relationship...there's a reward at the end if we don't quit. It's selfish, I know, but I think if we're all honest we'll admit the truth behind it. We normally only finish something because we have a vision of the end result and what we want that to look like. And for me today, that's just enough to keep going.

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