Of all things. January 17 was National Ditch New Year’s Resolutions Day, commonly thought to be the day when many folks do just that. Let’s face it. It’s hard to begin, and even harder to keep at, those self-improvement plans and goals.
On a more positive note, we were able to observe National Winnie the Pooh Day on January 17 and January 18 (official). Son Kyle, a fan of Pooh Bear and his friends, gave me a crochet pattern kit last spring and asked me to make the characters by National Winnie the Pooh Day 2020. Working on the little fellas was a good way to pass time as I healed from surgery. Somehow, even though I worked on them throughout the year, meeting the deadline came down to adding the wiry whiskers of Rabbit on January 15.
Here they are on Kyle’s desk at work last Friday.
I know I’m stating the obvious, but I never would have finished any of them, certainly not all of them, had I not picked up the yarn and hook and began. We know the adage, “The first step is the hardest.” Since my back surgery, with one leg affected by nerve damage, I’ve been living that truth. Actually, it’s DECIDING to take the first step and then not changing my mind that has been difficult. The first step with a walker, the first step with a cane, the first step with nothing in my hands, the first step up the steps, the first step down.
As I near the one-year anniversary of my surgery, still waiting for the nerves to heal, but able to head out the door with confidence, I’m pressing on to make my walks harder or longer. It takes a lot of concentration to keep lifting my feet and moving forward as the muscles tire. Uphill is difficult, but so rewarding. Downhill is tricky since my toes or knee may give out. I’ve realized, though, that I’m most likely to trip or stumble during the last few steps of my walk. I’m convinced that it’s because I slack off a little and concentrate less as my front door comes into view.
I started thinking about first steps in life.
How about getting married? Whether it was easy or difficult to decide to marry, it likely felt more like a leap than a step. Saying “I do” and “I will” is the beginning of a future together as husband and wife that will have challenging uphill climbs and times that could lead to letting our guard down and slipping, even breaking the vows that meant so much to us.
I’m thinking about the lesson that our marriage class will hear tomorrow night. In contrast to the notion that all our days should be easygoing and romantic, our Creator God has said in His Word, The Bible, that “If you marry, you will have trouble.” Dr. Emerson Eggerichs of Love and Respect Ministries explains what that means in his July 2012 BLOG POST. He ends with,
Don’t bail out. Don’t say your marriage isn’t working because of these (typical) frustrations. Instead, focus on dealing with those conflicts in a way that leads to harmony, not sin.
As I was thinking about the importance of “sticktoitiveness” (a word I heard in a school principal’s speech), a parable that I recently read in the 13th chapter of the Gospel of Matthew came to mind. Jesus told these simple stories to illustrate moral lessons and spiritual truths. He said to the people of his day,
A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. Whoever has ears, let them hear.
Later, Jesus explained the parable to his disciples:
Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path.
The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.
The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful.
But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.
When we begin a journey of faith by deciding to follow Jesus, we have the assurance that we do not go through life alone. As we continue to seek God’s will and walk in his ways, we are able to face each day with confidence in Him, knowing that in our weakness, God is our strength. Jesus made it clear that in this world, we will have trouble, but that in Him we can overcome. If you want to know more about this faith, please read How to Know You are Saved from my church’s website.
Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it.
But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,
I press on toward the goal to win the prize
for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Paul to the early Christians (Philippians 3:13-15)