Stick-to-it-ness

I've been thinking about Alice's post from a few days back. Little things + Time= Big Deal. I think I often get about the "little things," but it's more the "over time" factor that keeps me from seeing the big deal. It's the sustaining, persevering that's needed, but I often lose focus and fall into the default mode that is often careless.

I ran into Andy F. in the office the other day, and we were both agreeing that some of the changes this month have not been all that hard to make...that we just really needed the intention and the plan. So...it seems this should be easy to just live this new way, right? My history tells me otherwise. So, my thoughts and encouragements for today are in the area of the stick-to-it-ness that will lead us on from January into the days that follow.

"Fall seven times, stand up eight"

"He conquers who endures"

"Perseverance is not a long race; it is many short races one after the other."

"If you want to live a complicated, complex, joyless life, spend your time trying to do something that can't be done without God."

p.s. Due to two extended family dinners this week, our family has only eaten rice/beans two nights so far. I have been amazed at the willingness of my family to eat this (it could be the snacks that are eaten on the opposite side of the meal that help). Anyway, last night, as Sara was eating the rice (she doesn't really like the beans and has requested green beans for tonight's meal) and Nathan was eating the beans (he doesn't really like the rice), they were asking questions like "how much would a small bag of rice and beans cost at the market in Haiti? How much would they get in their bowl to eat? Why can't all the people who can't afford to buy food come and live here? Rice/beans proved a good conversation starter for two seven year olds. I'll let you know if there's complete revolt by the end of our week. :)

One day at a time,

Laura Hoy