When the Goin’ Gets Tough
It’s that time of year for me. Vacation Bible School was this week and Cousin’s Camp begins this Saturday. The week before VBS, we spent celebrating our two youngest grandchildren as they graduated from High School and the birthday of our daughter. It has been a busy time around here and I seem to move more slowly everyday. I am prone to be a little grumpy when I have a lot to do, but I have no one to blame but myself. I’ve never been one to think ahead and prepare early for very many things.
I call a time like what I’ve described as a time when the goin’ gets tough! But really, it’s just life. My mother used to add a little bit to this saying. She always said, “When the goin’ gets tough, the tough get going.” As usual, she was right.
Over the course of the last few weeks I’ve also spent some time thinking about the blessings of having family and still being able to enjoy times together. I really didn’t have a great deal of that when I was growing up. Life seemed to be much simpler then.
I’ve also spent some time thinking about the life that Jesus lived and how busy He was. He is such an excellent example in every way. He worked hard, but also found time to go away and pray for a while. Just as we grow weary at times, so did Jesus. He needed rest, just as we do.
My life has been busy lately; my brain is tired but thankful. I’m deeply thankful for those in my earthly family with whom I’ve been able to celebrate good times. I’m also thankful for those in my spiritual family with whom I’ve been able to work for the Lord.
Life is full of a mixture of work, challenges, hardships, joys, pleasures, gatherings, and an endless list of other happenings, but as long as we live on this earth, we should remember that as a Christian “when the goin’ gets tough, the tough get going.”
The Apostle Paul said it very well in his letter to the Philippians:
“Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do:
Forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,
I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
(Phil. 3: 13-14)
AUTHOR: Donna Faughn
