You'll Never Know

"I like a man who grins when he fights." ~ Winston Churchill

Man...my circumstances have made me want to lay my sanity aside and just LOSE it!

...But looking at me, you'll never know.

Man...my money being funny has me tempted to file bankruptcy.

...But looking at me, you'll never know.

Man...all the times my son has been hospitalized makes me feel so helpless. I'm his mama, but all the love, hugs and kisses couldn't medicate his struggle to breathe.

...But looking at me, you'll never know.

Man...I've wanted to make my marriage last till death do us part, and at times, I've been tempted to ask God to let me go to sleep and not wake up.

...But looking at me, you'll never know.

Man...my home is in foreclosure, and I really don't know what the outcome of our loan modification application is going to be.

...But looking at me, you'll never know.

All that to say, I've got REAL, difficult, daunting issues staring me in the face. Somehow, though, the fruit of the Holy Spirit has stepped in and given me peace that passes human understanding. God knows with all I have working AGAINST me right now, I could have been some sad, tragic story on CNN. I'm grateful to God for the ability to maintain my sense of humor through all this. All is not well, but my smile is not gone. I've taken some hits that have made me buckle, but I'm not planning on throwing in the towel.

We have to learn to be unpredictable in our daily fight to maintain our love, joy and peace. I'm crazy enough to take a blow like foreclosure or sickness, and act like such a thing only tickled. Although in reality, I'm not taking any of my issues lightly, outwardly, I'm grinning and still fighting. Between the enemy and I, one of us is going to give up. I plan to outlast all this foolishness and live to fight another day. What about you?

Fight in the Shade

There are times when I feel like a thousand armies are descending upon me, and that death is knocking at my door. Sometimes I just want to let go and give it all up. But then I think about my sons, my marriage, the ministry I serve in, and all the generations coming behind me. My mindset shifts from giving up, to feeling like if it's a fight my enemy wants, it's a fight he's gonna get!

No matter how dark it gets, as long as there is breath in my body, I'm going to keep fighting the battle. Come hell or high water, I'm not backing up until the negativity breaks! Winston Churchill once said, "I like a man that smiles when he fights." I laugh at the pressure and smile at the blows that think they will knock me to my knees!

How will YOU fight in the shade?

The Champion's Ship

I hated every minute of training, but I said, "Don't quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion." ~ Muhammad Ali

There is a body of people that carry themselves like champions, no matter what their circumstances bring their way. They won't quit, back down, let up or shut up until they fulfill their purpose, destiny and dreams. The Champion's Ship is making a stop, and I hope after reading this, you will hop on.

The suffix "-ship" denotes four specific things:

1) A state, condition or quality. If you want to get on the Champion's Ship, you must have a mindset that come hell or high water, you won't forget that you're a champion. I was walking with a friend yesterday, and she looked down on the ground within the dirt and grass and found a quarter. It was beat up, dirty, barely recognizable, but guess what? That bad boy was still worth its full 25 cents! Just because you take a hit doesn't mean you're valued any less.

2) Office, dignity or profession. Whether you're flipping burgers or houses, do it to the best of your ability. Promotion comes to those who carry themselves like they belong in the Champion's Ship no matter what their profession is.

3) Art, skill. The Champion's Ship has reserved seating and season tickets for those who find out what their passion is and work towards making the world a better place because of that passion. Muhammad Ali was a fighter, Jesus is a Savior, I am a writer, my friend is a singer...give your all to that passion, and you will find your name written on a suite in the Champion's Ship.

4) The body of persons participating in a specified activity. The Champion's Ship requires dedication, sacrifice, motivation, enthusiasm, prayer, and a willingness to leave a legacy for generations to come, should the Lord wait a little while longer to return. Peter Daniels, a champ I definitely look up to, said that he wanted his life to change the world for 300 years after he was dead and buried. This man who only had 6 years of formal education, has totally revolutionized the economic system of Australia and its surrounding nations because he believed that he belonged on the Champion's Ship long before his circumstances lined up with that belief.

What about you? Do you belong on the Champion's Ship? What sacrifices are you making now in order to live the rest of your life like a champ? Tell me about it!

No Time to Relax

"You can lie down and die, or you can get up and fight, but that's it--there's no turning back." ~ Jon English

Picture me in the labor and delivery room. Never mind...that's nasty. But just imagine, if you will, the look on my doctor's face when I told him I was tired and I didn't want to push anymore. His response still echoes in my mind as I recall one of the most painful, yet rewarding experiences of my life. He said, "It's crunch time, Harriet. You can't stop until this baby is delivered!"

If I had stopped pushing, both my son and I would have been at risk for losing our lives. His 9 lb. 9 oz form (and two weeks premature) was depending on me to take his first breath. And as I looked at him for the first time, I took my own first breath as a mother.

Michael Jordan once played a championship basketball game while he suffered with the stomach flu. As he took the final shot of the game, he practically collapsed into the arms of Scottie Pippen, who guided him back to the bench. In one breath, he was flu-stricken. In the next, he was the NBA champ! That game was his labor and delivery room for his fifth championship.

There was a labor and delivery room that still blows my mind when I think about it today. Jesus, in the Garden of Gethsemane, was under so much pressure that he began to suffer hematohidrosis. Under severe emotional duress, the capillaries surrounding his sweat glands burst, causing both blood and sweat to flow through his pores. He knew what was going to happen, but surely He didn't want to endure it. Yet as He took His last breath, He gave birth to the salvation of BILLIONS, including me, some 2000 years after His death. And as He took His next breath, He was seated in His rightful place on the throne of eternity, knowing that the pain He endured would bring life to many in the millennium to come.

I would go through the pain again to birth my son. I'm sure MJ would go through the pain again to get that coveted championship ring. Thank God Jesus went through His pain so I wouldn't have to go through hell here on earth, then deal with it for all eternity. In all three instances, lying down and dying was an option, but fighting through death to get to a more eternal reward required some moxie and a push that cannot be gained in ease, relaxation or quiet.

What are some of your most difficult moments that garnered the best reward? Tell me about them!