Monday, February 22, 2016

Monday Morning Memo: Throwing a Tantrum

We love to watch old reruns of The Andy Griffith show.  Even though we have seen each episode hundreds of time, we still laugh out loud at their crazy antics.

One of my favorite episodes is when Arnold Winkler moves into town and befriends Andy’s son, Opie.  When he finds Opie cleaning out the garage to earn his allowance, he tells him that he shouldn’t have to work for his allowance…that parents just owe their kids money.  He said that’s why it is called an allowance…it is money that kids are allowed to get.  He also demonstrates to him how to throw a tantrum, which will scare Opie’s father into giving him whatever he wants. 

Opie then goes to Andy and shares Arnold’s “words of wisdom” in an attempt to get out of his chores.  When Andy doesn’t oblige, Opie decides to try the scare tactics.  He first tries holding his breath, hoping when he turns blue, his pa will cave.  Andy’s response?  “That’s good exercise for your lungs.”  Opie then falls down on the floor and starts kicking and screaming.  Andy’s response?  “Don’t get your clothes too dirty.”  Andy stood firm and wasn’t a bit swayed by Opie’s outbursts.


I’ll be honest; there are times I want to throw a tantrum.  There are times when I think life just isn’t fair and I shouldn’t have to endure my current circumstances.  There are moments when I think God is asking me to do more than I should have to do and He’s making me feel downright uncomfortable.  There are days when I know what He wants me to do, but I realize the sacrifice that I’m going to have to make to accomplish His will for my life is too great and I want to either hold my breath or kick and scream to get Him to change His mind. 

I was feeling this way last week when I heard the story of the Massachusetts woman, Becca Pizzi, who completed seven marathons in seven days on seven continents.  The weeklong event began with the first marathon in Antarctica on January 23 and then she ran marathons in Chili, Miami, Spain, Morocco, Dubai and Australia.  All in all, Becca ran 27 hours, covering 183 miles on foot and flying roughly 23,000 miles.

When I first heard this story, I figured that this runner was probably a young athlete who devoted all of her time to train for this grueling event.  I was proven wrong when the reporter said that Ms. Pizzi is a thirty-five year old single mom who works two jobs and still manages to run 100 miles per week.  That, my friend, made this story even more amazing to me.

It would take tremendous strength and determination to run these marathons even if you were in your early 20’s, but to do it at thirty-five when your day-to-day schedule is crazy busy making a living is nothing less than inspiring.  Becca said that for her, running the marathons was 70% mental and 30% physical.  Then she shared, "It was a mind game, you know, and I thought from day one, you're going to have to get real comfortable being uncomfortable. And I did that and I thought, 'Don't let your mind get away from you.' And if you let your mind get away from you, the race is going to be over."  (http://www.cbsnews.com/news/becca-pizzi-world-marathon-challenge-first-american-woman-to-complete/)

You have to be real comfortable being uncomfortable.

I’m sorry, but that just isn’t something I want to do.  I don’t like to be uncomfortable.  I don’t like to do things that push me to my limit and beyond.  I don’t like to be inconvenienced.  Oh, there have been things in life that I have really wanted…but I wasn’t always committed enough to endure being uncomfortable.  My intentions were usually good, but sometimes I gave up when I realized that I would have to endure discomfort to succeed.  For some reason, I decided that what I was trying to accomplish just wasn’t worth being uncomfortable.  Because of this,

I’ve sometimes thrown a tantrum…
hoping the Lord will change His mind.

The Lord’s response?  “These things are good exercises for you LuAnn.  They will make you stronger in Me.  They will help you learn to rely on My strength and not your own.  They will help you keep from getting ‘dirty’ with the things of this world that can drag you down.”

I think just like it was for Ms. Pizzi, my efforts need to be at least 70% mental and 30% physical.  My mind needs to be more focused on Him than it is on me and my comfort.  Just as Becca didn’t use her current circumstances as an excuse not to run seven marathons, I can’t use my age, health or circumstances as an excuse not to follow His leading.  My eyes need to be on Him and He will give me the strength that is needed for whatever comes my way.

So I guess I’ll start working on being real comfortable being uncomfortable.  Oh, and not throwing a tantrum while I’m doing it!

“Commit your way to the LORD;
trust in him, and he will act.”
Psalm 37:5

"For nothing will be impossible with God." 
Luke 1:37

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