More lessons learned

For the past six weeks, track and field season has consumed our lives. With both of our girls participating this spring, life has been a non-stop turnstile of practices, uniforms, spikes and track meets. Throw in an ankle injury and it's been more like a revolving circus!

But as I've watched athletes run, jump, and throw, I've learned a few truths that can help me, and hopefully you, cross the finish line in our own seasons of life:

• It takes effort and discipline to accomplish your goals.
• Don't settle for anything less than the best - God's best!
• Don't look back - it only slows you down and lets your opponent take back hard-fought ground from you!
• It's the little things that make the difference; those little things that mean the difference between winning and losing.
• Even if you have gifts, abilities, and talent, you still have to keep working and pushing yourself - raw talent alone won't bring victory!
• You have to BELIEVE.
• Wise counsel and guidance is essential, BUT you have to be willing to heed that wisdom or else you'll keep making the same mistakes and not reach your goal.
• Don't compare yourself to everyone else, it only distracts you - focus on what you can do!
• You must have mental focus because "as a man a thinks in his hearts, so he is" (Proverbs 23:7).

Track season is over for this year and it's been a great one for both my girls -- they learned a lot and even won a few medals! As for me, I may not have run a dash, leaped through the air, or jumped over a hurdle, but I was a winner too -- I learned some great lessons that will help me run and finish the race God has purposed for me to win. I'm hoping you'll be encouraged to win yours too!