Day #4- Trash Talking
Scripture Reading
The king of Israel answered, “Tell him: ‘One who puts on his armor should not boast like one who takes it off.’"
(1 Kings 20:11)
It was early in the run
I felt awesome
So, I breezed past my daughter on the road
And said; “Now you know what it feels like.”
“What,” she said.
“Running behind”
My confidence lifted
“I think maybe I’ll run six and lap you,” I said.
“Be careful old man,” she said respectfully (at least as respectfully as it can be said)
Later in the run
It had gotten really hot
The old man had gotten older
Suddenly there she was
Running backwards in front of me…smiling
“What are you doing?” I asked.
“Just enjoying the run,” she said
And then she turned and bolted up the hill laughing
I looked for a rock
She needed to be taught a leadership lesson
But realized I couldn’t hit her if I tried
And I might break a hip trying to stop and pick one up
And besides…
I started this
So I finished the run behind her
And thanked God for the joy of watching my daughter run
Indeed, some days are diamonds.
Just a thought.
If you lived long at all, hopefully you’ve learned a little about how wise it is to keep your mouth shut.
Dr. Crawford Howe said to me once, “Brian, I’ve never had to eat a single word I didn’t speak.” Sometimes I think God sent Dr. Howe to earth just to say those kinds of things to me. Good advice. Sometimes, we simply bite off more than we can chew.
I really was thinking that day about running six. I felt that good, but just a couple miles down the road reality drug me home. Training to run a long distance is humbling. So is life.
Ben-Hadad, king of Aram, and 32 of his closest king buddies amassed their armies against Israel. The king of Israel tried to negotiate. Ben-Hadad never stopped talking, all the time wanting more and more. The King of Israel finally had enough. He resisted and won the battle in the end. Remember, just because you’re enemy talks like the war is over doesn’t mean it is. Life is a long run. Don’t be discouraged by the trash talkers early. Don’t be talked out of your dreams by someone who’s not a dreamer. Don’t let someone who’s never reached a goal keep you from reaching yours. And whatever you do, don't let the enemy of your soul, who's already defeated, talk you into quitting. Just keep training. Keep moving forward.
Prayer
Father as I run today, help me to identify the trash talkers I’ve given into in my life; fear, doubt, self-pity, and discouragement, just to name a few. Help me to run past them and into the future you have for me. And, just in case I'm tempted, remind me that I'll never have to eat a single word I don't speak, and God bless Crawford Howe.