I grew up hearing “Don’t half-end it.” Or, go back and lick that calf over… Ew! Right? Now, though, I totally get it. To half-end something is to not do it thoroughly. A cow will keep licking its new calf until it is clean. It won’t do it half-way!
I hate when someone is wishy-washy and doesn’t give their best effort. Over the door in my classroom is my motto “Pursuing Excellence.” That does not mean perfection, nor is it a snobbish term. It simply means giving it your all. I will not let my students settle for mediocre.
Sometimes parents take this to the extreme and drive their children so hard that they get discouraged. I like to think that my boys knew that I expected their best, and that “best” didn’t mean perfection. And someone’s best may not be the same as another’s best. I pushed them and never let them settle. However, at the same time, they knew that it was all for the Father.
Here’s what I have discovered. When we are going through life doing this or that, striving for this goal or that goal, if we are not careful we begin to compare our journeys with someone else’s. We see them achieving all this success, friends, whatever… and if we’re not careful we’ll think, “obviously, I’m not good enough”… or “obviously, I don’t know what I’m doing, so I should just quit.”
I’ve found the key, y’all! And, yes, it does involve “all or nothing,” but there’s a caveat. Are you ready? Here it is. A life changer!
Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve. ~Colossians 3:23-24.
There it is. It’s how I survive. It’s how I have peace! Whether it is my fitness journey or my teaching job, the one I’m seeking to please is Father, God. Sure, I want others to be pleased and happy with my work. Sure, I want appreciation and pats on the back, but you know what? Sometimes that does not happen. Sometimes…I get nothing! People walk right by me without even a nod. I got ZERO likes on that post! And it was amazing!..Those I thought were my bff’s…offended…gone… .
Sometimes, I’ve just cried. Then I usually get mad. Then I feel bad. THEN… I remember why I’m doing what I’m doing. I remember why it’s all okay: because whatever I do, I know God knows my heart. He sees my inner man. He knows my truth. He’s the one I’m serving!
So, when others misunderstand me, when others think I’m… whatever… I’m able to keep going because I know the Father knows my heart. There’s no way I can mope around and “half-end” what I do. I can’t! I’ve never been able to do that. It’s really, all or nothing. Whether it is teaching my students, or working my BB business, or cleaning my toilets, my whole heart is going to be in it because, even when no one is looking, my God is looking, and it is to him I will answer.
How freeing is this! If we never get the accolades, if that person is never friendly with us… if we have put our heart into it because God has instilled in us a desire to do well, and we do it for him and not men, then – even if it stings a little when we don’t get approval from others – ultimately we can’t help but smile.
Don’t grow weary in doing good, friends. There’s a payday, someday : ) Another old saying.
Forward Motion…
Ciao.
Vickie L. Perez: Vitality 