Wednesday, April 19, 2006

Don't Quit

There's a lot of "Senioritis" going around--even the teachers have it! There's still about 5 weeks left until school's out, and most people are hoping it's next week. But it's going to go by fast. For some reason, even with the lovely weather outside, I'm still in "school mode," and I'm not sure exactly why, because usually I'm ready to call it quits this time of year too. Maybe it's because I have a lot of things to do before school gets out: we have Junior High FABA next week, 2 spring programs the next week, and 2 more spring programs over the following 2 weeks. Then there's K5 graduation and a spring recital (or 2) for my piano kids. So a regular week of school doesn't sound all that bad right now. Now don't get me wrong, I'm looking forward to summer vacation, too, but I'm also enjoying the anticipation part of it. I guess I'm one of those people that enjoys the anticipation of something almost as much as the actual event--like Christmas, for instance. The actual day goes by SO FAST, but the anticipation gets to last much longer.

So, anyway. Enjoy the anticipation, and keep focus! It's on those hard-to-focus days that we really need to make sure our priorities are right. And I know from experience that when our focus is on pleasing God and pleasing others it turns out to be so much better than we try to please ourselves. (Rabbit trail: I had a birthday like that once. I wanted to do all MY favorite things and have everyone serve ME and it was the worst birthday ever. Since then I've tried to focus on serving others and the whole experience is much nicer.)

So don't give up! Don't "check out" and go fishing. It's when we're tired and worn out that it's easy to give into temptation, but DON'T! Take one day at a time, and make it a priority to spend time with God and keep your focus up! (I'm talking to myself here, too.)

Here's an old poem that's been around a long time. I memorized it when I was in grade school, I think, but think it fits the occasion:

Don't Quit

When things go wrong as they sometimes will.

When the road you’re trudging seems all up hill.
When funds are low and the debts are high.
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh.
When care is pressing you down a bit.
Rest, if you must, but don’t you quit.

Life is queer with its twists and turns.
As everyone of us sometimes learns.
And many a failure turns about.
When he might have won had he stuck it out:
Don’t give up though the pace seems slow –
You may succeed with another blow.
Success is failure turned inside out –

The silver tint of the clouds of doubt
And you never can tell how close you are.
It may be near when it seems so far:
So stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit –
It’s when things seem worst that you must not quit.

- Author unknown

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Great thoughts and a great poem!

kiwi said...

yeah, i'm struggling with finishing the last two weeks of school strong. it seems the pile of projects, presentations, and juries never end...thanks for the reminder! it sounds like you're very busy as usual! have a great rest of the week!