As
soon as I clicked the publish button on my last post, 5 things to do if you feel like quitting, several more points came to mind that I could've included.
And after the correspondence I’ve received since the post, I thought it might be
timely to submit an addendum of 3 more things to do if you feel like quitting.
Invest
in the work of others. If we’re going through a rough patch, most likely some
around us might also be facing tough times. Encouraging others when we least
feel like doing so through our time, our finances, our prayers, or simply
a word could be life changing for them and us. In God’s economy, you can’t
give without the blessing returning to you.
Not
that we ever give to get. But, it’s what God did for Job, “The Lord turned thecaptivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends...” (Job 42:10). If we’re
feeling captive in our own discouragement, turning our faces heavenward in
prayer for others helps us refocus, helps us see God at work in other lives,
and encourages us to persevere.
Finish
something. Often the reason we feel like quitting is we can’t seem to finish
anything. Survey the projects you have going, choose one, and stick with it
until you finish. Block checked. Just seeing one thing finished gives a sense
of getting out of that rut we may feel we’re in. From there, we can press on
to the next task.
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Almost
every year since my sister became a teacher, I’ve make little ornaments for her
students at Christmas. Each year, I’d make the same ornament with slight
variations-- different ribbon, and glitter. I’d cut bell shapes out of red
velveteen, sew them together, turn them inside out, stuff them, glue a big
ribbon with a jingle bell attached, and write the children’s names in glitter.
As you can see, there were many steps. However, right out of the box, I had to
finish one bell. I needed to see the finished project, how the ribbon looked
that year, if the glitter color worked. I could have chosen to assemble them
all a step at a time. Again, I had to finish one at least most of the way to
keep my momentum.
I’m
telling you, it helps.
Do
something creative purely for the joy of it. If we were four, we’d finger
paint. The second year we homeschooled, I read somewhere about practicing spelling
words by writing them out in shaving cream. My daughter was already at work on
her words when I asked my son what he wanted to do next. He responded, “I want
to get messy.” And he did.
Sometimes
we need to get messy with creativity. When we feel like quitting--plunging fingers into a lump of clay, plucking flowers from the garden to
make a wild arrangement, or cooking up some outrageous cookies can jump-start
our batteries.
We
so often evaluate everything we do for its practicality. Do something
creatively impractical--for God’s glory and your joy.
As
soon as I hit send on this post, I’m probably going to think of three more
things to add to the list. But maybe you’ve thought of something that’s worked
for you. If so, feel free to add to these in the comment section below. You
never know who might benefit.