My Olympic Heart

I cleaned my children's bedrooms yesterday, and in one of the rooms, I unearthed a plastic gold medal which came from preschool. As I bent down to scoop it off the floor, I thought about Olympic athletes, and how hard they work to even get to the Olympic games. I continued contemplatively working, and when the room was finished, A single thought was in my mind.

What if I worked like an elite athlete?

They don't hop in the pool and merely cruise to the other end. They swim their guts out.

What if I, as a homemaker, as a mama, as a wife, as a friend, as a daughter, as a sister, as a woman - what if I didn't content myself with cruising through the day, and instead, put my head down, my bottom up, and dug deep. Ignored the distraction of life outside the lane, and just focused on my own race, in my own lane.

I'll tell you what would happen, because I did just this yesterday.

Stuff got done. I Friday-ed like a BOSS. I owned Friday. I looked at Friday and said "IN YOUR FACE, FRIDAY! YOU ARE NOT THE BOSS OF ME!"

Even more surprising to me was that I did it all cheerfully. I cleaned my children's rooms (which I'd been nagging them to do for over a week), I tidied up their wardrobes, I washed all the clothes, I swept all the floors, I washed all the dishes, I mopped, I made beds, I ran the errands, I put away the clothes, I served and loved my family, with both hands and a full heart. I read stories, and responded to requests to "sit with me, Mummy", not grumbling and complaining about all that was left to do, but simply content to sit with my babies in the quiet. Through all of it, I was happy. I was content. I saw my life not as a nuisance, but as my very own Olympic event. I don't want to only go halfway in life. I want to know, at the end of each day, that I mama-ed my guts out. I want to know that I have done all that I could have, and not close my eyes with regrets.

I don't know what today holds in store - but I know that I will be in the race with my whole self, in my own lane, living my guts out.

Colossians 3:17 (NIV) And whatever you do, whether in word or in deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

1 Corinthians 9 (The Message)

^24-25 You’ve all been to the stadium and seen the athletes race. Everyone runs; one wins. Run to win. All good athletes train hard. They do it for a gold medal that tarnishes and fades. You’re after one that’s gold eternally.
^26-27 I don’t know about you, but I’m running hard for the finish line. I’m giving it everything I’ve got. No sloppy living for me! I’m staying alert and in top condition. I’m not going to get caught napping, telling everyone else all about it and then missing out myself.

Go out and run HARD.

Sarah