WE AIN’T LEAVIN’ TILL WE’RE HEAVIN’!
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“How twisted is that”? She asked. “What do you mean”? I answered my wife with a question to hers. “You know how weird that sounds”? She continued, throwing another question on what was quickly becoming a contest to see who could communicate by only asking questions.
I caved. “I don’t think it’s twisted at all”! – “I think throwing up shows the kind of character she’s developing,”! was my declaration and defense of an earlier statement. “I agree, her sisters will be proud of her,” – “It just sounds bad”! My wife added. “All the Lacrosse girls would be proud of her”! I proudly announced.
After our youngest finished her first cross country race of the year, she shared with me that she had barfed. I wasn’t too surprised, I’d seen another girl stop about 100 yards short of the finish line and hurl, although that girl didn’t finish the race.
Having grown up in Arizona and having played sports in the intense August and September heat, puking is standard operating procedure for the people who are pushing themselves.
I’ve tossed my cookies more than once under similar circumstances. When I coached girls Lacrosse, anyone who threw up due to pushing themselves received “hero status” for the day. The other girls would even cheer and clap for the girls losing her lunch, and not in a joking or sarcastic way.
I instilled in them a different perspective when it came to up-chucking. I’m not as twisted as this may sound, let me try to explain. Everyone has gifts and talents. How we apply our gifts and talents are really the only difference.
I believe when kids are young they will begin the habits that will follow them all of their lives. The young people who learn or get into the habit of quitting during their formative years will be prone to quit as adults.
If our children aren’t taught or encouraged to persevere, they will ultimately forfeit their natural desires and gifts. I also believe while God given talent can take a person a long way, it can’t take a person nearly as far as desire and perseverance.
I think we as a nation and as Christians should be the ones setting the example. I don’t care where a person finishes. Yes, winning, or a better term; being victorious or triumphing is the desired outcome, true winning comes from never quitting.
The gratification gained by pursuing the self-discipline within to push and keep pushing can only be measured and calculated over the course of a lifetime. The ones who push and never quit, regardless of where they end up, are the epitome of a winner.
I don’t know one person in this life who has won everything all the time. I can say from life experience, the best way to learn how to be triumphant is to go through the losing process over and over.
In the end, the real blessing or gift is the one learned, experienced, and it is sometimes through gut-wrenching pain, whether physically or emotionally. The times we learn to keep going when we want to quit are the developed art of how to succeed and win.
I love Paul’s simple analogy of his Christian life to sporting events. “I’ve run the good race, I’ve fought the good fight.” Through beatings, being stoned, shipwrecks, and attempts on his own life is how Paul gained his perspective about life.
Through pain and endurance, both God and Paul considered it good. Our kids may as well begin to learn it young. I’d say to to run a good race with purpose and endurance, while lungs are burning, struggling for air, lactic acid is burning in all parts of the legs and not giving up, even after throwing up, is indeed hero status.
I’m proud of my little one. Now she has earned stories to share and build on, especially with her big sisters, who’ve been there and done that…
I think sometimes the seemingly insignificant events in a life can make all the difference.
Even the emptying of a stomach.
Maybe sometimes by giving up some guts… You get more…
Sunday, October 9, 2011 @ 9:06 pm
When I played basketball in HB CA (Home of the Mighty Vikings) lol girls puked while running a mile before our actual practice had even started, some even fainted. Parents called complaining the coaches were too hard on the girls & football players/friends would comment that we ran more than they did. I always pushed myself cause I didn’t want to look like a wuss, not realizing it was a matter of character & finishing what you start. I moved back to Havasu & planned on joining the basketball team but I thought the girls on the team in Havasu were “Dorks” kid mentality really. I needed someone to encourage me, push me to follow through with it… tell me I needed to finish something. I think I needed A TON more of that & it has affected my future. It’s really my fault cause I knew in my gut & heart I should have continued but image was more important in my infantile brain. I will always make my girls finish what they start unless it is actually killing them because life really isn’t rewarding in any aspect when you give up on hopes, dreams, bettering yourself or accomplishments.
Sunday, October 9, 2011 @ 10:36 pm
Wow… I knew you would end up with wisdom. I just didn’t expect it this soon. Your daughters are blessed to have a wonderful mother that God has formed you into. I’m proud of you Sherri… I’m honored along with the rest of your family. May God bless you in all you do…
Monday, October 10, 2011 @ 11:12 am
You are so right. We have to be faithful to teach our kids (and remember ourselves) that finishing well beats building our own kingdom on our own success. We can learn so much through the process and yes, the ‘journey.’ Good stuff, Floyd. I’m with you.
Monday, October 10, 2011 @ 11:57 am
Thanks Jason.
I’m not surprised you get it. For others it’s not as easy, it’s much easier for guys sometimes, although women are as tough and even tougher in other ways. But it it a long race, this life. Maybe I should have paced myself a little better?
Monday, October 10, 2011 @ 5:28 pm
Perhaps I should have competed more, because I missed the puking experience. I don’t think the girls were twisted who cheered for those who finished, even if they lost their lunch at the finish line. Not giving up is a trait that is learned, and encourgement from elders is needed. God has granted us determination to finish our life’s race and as Paul said a crown is laid up for me.
2Tim 4:8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
Monday, October 10, 2011 @ 5:48 pm
Well said Hazel. There are many examples of strong women in the Bible. Deborah, one of the judges comes to mind along with all the strong and faithful women who God used to carry the blood line of David to our King. It’s always been my opinion that strong women make strong children. I know for sure you have earned that title.
Monday, October 10, 2011 @ 7:43 pm
Living your dream … Pushing yourself to your limit … “Win or lose” … is a win in life. Desire and perseverance … so many times will overcome natural God given abilities. As the coach use to say … “the team that leaves everything on the field today will walk off a winner. And as you wrote … That type of effort developed early in life builds winning character, Amen! Bt
Monday, October 10, 2011 @ 7:52 pm
Interesting regardless of an outcome, after disappointment subsides gratification is realized and desire rises up to try again. I also find it interesting how a coach from our youth can have such a positive impact on our entire life. A good coach is worth their weight in gold.
Tuesday, October 11, 2011 @ 12:25 pm
LOL! Both comical and insightful 😀 Cross-country runners, especially, have their share of barfing stories (also stories about ridding themselves of other wastes by the side of the path)… One of my best friends in high school was a cross-country runner, and I’ve heard more stories than I care to know!
There are very good reasons why the Bible compares Christian living to the running of a race. Great reminder!
Tuesday, October 11, 2011 @ 5:37 pm
Thanks Jo! I’ve heard some of those stories too! My hat is off to anyone who runs places I dread driving to!
I love the analogy by Paul, now it makes me think of my dad…
Tuesday, October 11, 2011 @ 7:24 pm
I would have to agree learning to stick things out is very important and I just have to say that most of the time the reward is way better than we expect it to be. I dont know if when you started to write your book that you had any idea where it would take you or how you would get to the end and somehow it brought you here writing your thoughts and stories in a blog. I for one am glad you have done this you have shown a lot of perserverance and I’m sure it has not been easy. You are a great example of finishing what you start. Thanks again for a great post.
Tuesday, October 11, 2011 @ 7:44 pm
Thank you my friend. I appreciate your kind words, coming from a man with the character of yours, I’m humbled. Interesting how the same or more could be said of you.
Tuesday, October 11, 2011 @ 9:01 pm
I’ve never been athletic myself, except in the cranium area of my body. I try to exercise my mind with reading and writing and teaching. Physically, I have walked more miles as a child than most kids, because my mother never learned to drive a car. We walked one way sometimes and rode the city bus the other way when we went to town, if Mom had the money. I loved those walks with my mom and my sister. I never vomited, but I cried myself to sleep lots of nights with aching legs. My mom would rub my legs with ointment and I would fall asleep crying, but I couldn’t wait to go some place with mom the next time! Oh yes, and just today, I walked 2.5 miles around the fountain in my town with my good friend, Rosemarie. No crying tonight! Thanks for good thoughts and memories, Floyd.
Tuesday, October 11, 2011 @ 9:11 pm
Thanks Effie, I’d say you are cut from the same mold as the rest of the people who push themselves, probably even more than most! Good for you for exercising both your cranium and your body! I can’t think of a more beautiful walk than yours, it doesn’t get more picturesque than that walk with Four Peaks shading your steps…
Tuesday, October 25, 2011 @ 1:18 pm
I love the picture Paul paints in 2 Timothy 4. I’m not athletic, never ran a race in my life, but I’ve been on the (spiritual) battleground more times than I can count. We should run the race to WIN, not to just be counted.
Love this!
Tuesday, October 25, 2011 @ 6:45 pm
Thanks Pat. Well said, “We should run the race to WIN, not just be counted.” I think too many times we do just settle for being counted, that isn’t a life more abundant.