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The Daily Race



As I sit here trying to put some thoughts down for the Thirty for 30 challenge, I just feel somewhat depleted. It has been an incredibly challenging week as a mother and I have failed more than I've succeeded--at least that's how it feels.

And, in all honesty, I have also failed some in this Bible reading challenge.  I have already been playing a bit of catch-up in my reading goal.

But each day is a fresh start and I am determined to meet my goals!

Determination: this is the character trait that my children are learning about this month in their classes at our church.  We've also been talking about it at home each morning before beginning our homeschool lessons.  It's a great word!

Here's the definition for Determination that they're learning: "Deciding it's worth it to finish what you've started."  Pretty powerful stuff, huh?  How often do we need to remind ourselves of that?

The verse that they learned this past week to go along with their lesson is this:

Let us keep running the race marked out for us.  Hebrews 12:1 (NIV)

We've been talking about that verse this week, too.  Every time I've read that verse in the past I've always thought about the race in the context of the "race of life" and finishing life well.

However, we have a sort of mini-race to run each and every day, don't we?  With my children I've talked with them about their daily race--which includes their schoolwork and their chores--and how they should focus on each day at hand to finish that daily race well.

That applies to me as well.  My daily races can include all kinds of things--as I'm sure yours do, too--housework, errands, special projects, time for friends and family, this list can go on and on.  And I have to ask myself, "am I finishing my daily races well?".  Sometimes the answer is, "not so much".  Too often I'm nagging and gripping at my family or too tired for an extra kind word or too busy to pick up the phone to make a call to that person I've been putting off.  That's not doing my race well.

I want to hit my pillow at night knowing that I gave my day 100% (or at least tried to) and that I finished that day in a very positive way.

How can I do this?  The same way that I tell my kiddos they can do it:

I can do everything by the power of Christ.  He gives me strength.  
Philippians 4:13 (NIrV)

And you can, too!

How are your New Year goals and resolutions coming along?  Are you participating in the Thirty for 30 challenge?  I'd love to hear about it in the comments and if you're blogging about it today (or earlier this week) don't forget to link up at There Is Grace today!
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Nancy said…
Great thoughts on "Determination!" I've also always thought of that verse in Hebrews in context of a life-race. But to think of it as a daily race is so much more applicable at times! It seems that sometimes my struggle is not with my life-race, but with the daily one! Thank you for sharing your thoughts and for linking up!
January 10, 2013 at 10:47 AM
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