Happy Friday, Friends!
I hope and trust this post finds you all having a great day on this glorious Friday morning in my Sweet Home Alabama! 😊
Being 10 days from New Years Eve, I wanted to share a thought with you; It takes what it takes! My oldest Tender Warrior, Payton, and I have become fond of sharing this saying with one another when doing the things we need to do to accomplish the things we said we wanted to accomplish…you might want to read that again – “when doing the things we need to do to accomplish the things we said we wanted to accomplish.” As we look ahead to the new year and possible new years resolutions, we would be wise to remember that it takes what it takes!
I believe you can attribute this expression to the great theologian, uh, football coach, Nick Saban. Coach Saban said, “If you want to be good, you really don’t have a lot of choices, because it takes what it takes.” While Coach is undoubtedly right, I want to encourage us all to look at it through a lens broader than just football.
If we want to be good in our spirituality, it takes what it takes. It will be important to read the Bible, pray, go to church, do Bible Studies, get involved in church groups, etc. It is not about being legalistic, it is about the renewing of the mind and the transformation of the heart. It takes what it takes!
If we want to be good spouses/partners, it takes what it takes. We must invest time, be present, sacrifice for others, communicate, address issues, etc. If we want great spouses/partners, we must be great spouses/partners. If we want great marriages, we must fight for our marriages and refuse to give up on imperfect people…and may we never forget that we are imperfect! It takes what it takes!
If we want to be good parents, it takes what it takes. We must show up every day, be present, listen, care about what matters most to the precious souls entrusted to us, perhaps put aside our dreams for theirs, etc. I pray we will all understand and internalize, especially at this time of year, that what our children want most is our presence, not our presents. They want us to do life with them, to know that they can always count on us to be there for them no matter the success or failure, triumph or defeat, joy or sorrow. It takes what it takes!
If we want to be good in our chosen fields of endeavor, it takes what it takes. We cannot show up late and leave early, do just enough, cut corners, or worry about what anyone else is doing. We must have teachable spirits and servants hearts. We must have an insatiable desire to pursue the greatness that is within us. It takes what it takes!
So, as we sit back and think about our New Year
Resolutions, there would be great wisdom in counting the cost! We cannot cheat
the process of attaining the things we say we want to attain. I am reminded of
my favorite quote, the one that changed everything for me the first time I read
it:
“Nothing is easier than saying words, nothing is
harder than living them day after day. What you decide today and commit to
today, you must redecide and recommit to tomorrow and each day that stretches
out before you.” – Arthur Gordon
Why? Because it takes what it takes!
Last year at this time, I established a goal for how far I wanted to ride my recumbent bike this year. Once I knew the total number, I did the math on how many miles I had to ride the bike every day to accomplish that goal. It did not matter if I was on vacation. It takes what it takes! It did not matter if I was on a business trip and the hotel did not have a bike. It takes what it takes! It did not matter if I was sick. It takes what it takes! It did not matter if I did not feel like doing it that day. It takes what it takes!
Do I believe you can be a good person, spouse/partner, parent, leader, or friend? Without question! Do I believe you can accomplish the goal you are thinking about setting for yourself in 2024? Absolutely! The only thing that I want to respectfully encourage you to consider is the cost or sacrifice it will take. Does it take a sacrifice to be a good spouse/partner or parent? Absolutely! Something will be sacrificed if you are to be a good spouse/partner or parent, and something will be sacrificed if you are not. We just have to decide which price we are willing to pay because it takes what it takes!
Please don’t hesitate to contact me if there is ever anything I can do for you or your family. I will always help you any way I can. You can reach me at kevin@whatwillyourinfluencebe.com.
Have a great day, a wonderful weekend, please cherish your family, please stay well, and Merry Christmas! 😊
No comments:
Post a Comment