I went to watch a four-year-old’s first soccer game.
They were geared up and excited. The game started and the boys ran up and down the field, kicking the ball.
After a few minutes, the red-faced sweaty boys took a quick rah-rah break with the coach. When it was time to go back in one player sat on the blanket.
“I want to take nap,” he said.
He was done.
There was no convincing him that going back on the field and running and kicking a ball was a good idea.
I’m a nap girl. I believe that taking a short siesta here and there makes you more productive, and a lot more rested. But like this little guy, sometimes my naps aren’t about refreshing or resting.
It’s not a nap I really want, at all. I just want to check out because I’ve hit a road block or something’s not near as much fun as I thought it would be.
I give a four-year-old a ton of grace. It was his first game. He’ll do great.
But I’m not four.
On Monday I started recording audio for my new book, Come With Me: Discovering the Beauty of Following Where He Leads
, that will be released in a couple of months.
Like the sweet little guy on the soccer field, I was geared up. I was ready and excited. Doing voiceover work and being able to do the audio on one of my own books is a bucket list item.
I couldn’t wait!
Until I made my first mistake, and then another.
My voice was raspy. I fought the need to clear my throat. I needed water.
Where’s the water?
I couldn’t figure out where to breathe, so I read until I had no air left. Then I gasped, making the producer giggle in the other room because I sounded (and looked) like a fish lying on the bank.
Everything within me loved this . . . until it got hard.
The intro and first chapter were rough. I fought the desire to “check out.”
Maybe somebody else would do a better job.
After Chapter Three, I realized that I had found my rhythm. I figured out how to read large chunks of text and breathe at the same time. I gave myself permission to stop at times to take a sip water. When I made a mistake — and there were plenty — I paused, backed up and started again.
At the end of the day the producer and I stood in the lobby.
“Sorry for all the mistakes,” I said. “That was a lot harder than I thought it would be.”
“I thought you did fantastic,” he said. “In fact there were times I almost forgot that we were producing because I was listening to the words. I really love your book.”
Funny, how his perspective and mine were so different.
So I asked him about that.
“We can redo that first chapter. You just weren’t warmed up. When the final product comes out, it’ll be great.”
My goodness, how much angst do we cause ourselves internally, when externally it’s going so much better than we realized?
His experience of forty years taught him that mistakes are part of the process. That the first take isn’t always the final take. That if you work at it and keep going, you get better.
Maybe you sensed God asking you to do something and it was exciting.
You jumped in . . . but now you are ready to jump back out.
You want to stop, check out, wait until it gets easier.
Let’s just move to the after-game snacks, please.
Hang in there, would you?
Jesus never promised comfortable, but he does promise to change us. {Tweet This}
The little guy I watched play the other night will probably be kicking goals before the end of the season. I know that because he’s got a great coach who believes in him. I watched his mom, who gently encouraged him to get out into the field of play.
We have that same gift. The Lord knows when we’re hitting a big ‘ole wall that seems impossible to climb. He understands that we fell and it’s hard to get back up. He knows that we really love it when things are easier rather than hard.
Yet he believes in us. He’s put us in the game for a reason.
Naps are good.
I’ll be a Sunday-afternoon nap-taking kind of girl for the rest of my life, but let’s refuse to check out of the good things God has placed in front of us when it gets too hard.
Listen for his words of encouragement.
Step back into the field of play.
Let’s take our eyes off of success or goals or how hard it is (or how other players are doing) and celebrate that we get to be a part of this amazing team.
If you’ve struggled, I want to pray with you. I’ve been there. Let’s cheer each other on today!
We are all part of the team.
Thank you for this. I needed it today. My husband is currently deployed and I am left at home to raise our three children. Sometimes I want to check out. It’s hard doing this by myself. But with Christ, I can do hard things. I am part of your launch team and I can’t wait to read your book!!
Adrienne! My hubby is deployed, too! I’ll pray for you for sure! Where are you stationed?
Huge hugs to you military mommas! I respect what you do and pray for all of you daily (my sis is also a military wife). You ladies are an inspiration to me. Praying extra for you today!
That was just what I needed today. I woke up tired and as I was brushing my teeth, I thought, “Oh…I’m just gonna come home after taking the boys to school and nap for a while.” But that won’t get me anywhere on my long list of to-do’s. Instead, I think I’ll use it as an incentive to get enough done by 2 to take a short nap before my kids get off the bus!
I believe you are right Matt, Obama is in panic mode and the more worried he becomes the more nasty and petulent I expect him to become. He doesn’t handle rejection well and he might just have a meltdown if he loses the election.
Thank you for this! I was all excited to start training for “retirement” job that sounded perfect for me. Now I’m in the actual training and trying to do it place and it is hard. I’ve taken a lot of naps!! I corrected my 1st transcript last night and there was one mistake after the other. I needed to hear encouragement to keep trying, to keep going.
Thank you!!!
Thank you. I’m doing something that’s harder than I thought it would be there are few outward signs of success but I’m learning and growing and trying to be patient. You’re words helped 🙂
Oh Wow! Did I need this! I am often looking ahead to the snacks 😉 Need to remember these nuggets of wisdom and Can Not Wait For the New Book! xo
Your new book sounds great! I am a “Sunday afternoon nap girl” also – WITHOUT FAIL – unless something REALLY IMPORTANT is going on! LOL. Thanks, Suzie for your extra love you show to everyone! Good luck with your new book!
Oh how I needed this, Suzie! Thank you!
Suzie, Your posts are always so timely and God ordained for what I need to hear. Much like my eating “am I hungry or trying to sooth something only Jesus can?” I need to examine my nap and isolation time to see if I’m tired, and need a nap, or am I avoiding doing the hard stuff. So awesome!! Thank you!!
Sometimes a girl just needs a nap. : ) I took one today and it was necessary for the grueling schedule I’m in right now. But checking out isn’t on the agenda, no matter how tempting it might be at times. I don’t want to miss what God is showing me!
Awesome! Can hardly wait to read (or listen to) your new book. I’m a nap person too! Blessngs to you and yours! Marie
Beautiful post, and oh, so timely for me. I’ve recovering from a bout of flu. Exhausted. Overwhelmed. It’s during these times that I want to run (and nap!). I desperately want to run from the hard. Thank you SUzie for this beautiful reminder that we are in this game for a reason!
Ellen, get better!
What a word that I needed for today while I am waiting on the doctor to call with test results. The “check out” part really gets me. I told my husband the other day that I think I will just take a nap until they call and then get up and get on with my life. He always tell me “you are healthy and nothing is wrong with you”. I love him so. 3 years this month out of cancer surgery, and you would think I would be stronger, and more confident in the Lord. Thank you for this word to hand in there and wait for the Good on the other side of this waiting. Thank you for being so inspiring, Suzie. 🙂
Naps are good. I’m a huge fan. : ) I’m praying right now for you and your husband. I’ve been on both sides of this battle.
I needed this today Suzie! I’m afraid I’ve been a little checked out of working on a big writing project God has given me because it’s harder than I expected it to be. Where are all the rainbows and sunshine every day when I need to write? I’m so grateful that even though we’re not promised comfortable we are promised He’s with us.
It is harder than we think. I’m right there with you! No rainbows and sunshine here either, but goodness what a privilege it is. Cheering you on, Laura!
Thank you for this, Suzie. Sometimes quitting seems so much easier than the feelings of failure. Thanks for the boost to keep pressing on. God is doing transforming work. Thank you for always being real and allowing us to peek into your life. My prayers are for the military mommas, too. I was one for 15 years.
You are such a Blessing …
Thank You …
🙂
Hi Suzie, what a timely post! I’ve been on a design project with a super tight dateline and the thought of quitting / giving up seems like the easier option to take! It is encouraging to know God has placed us where we are for a time and reason and He will never leave us. Thank you for this reminder! (: