I feel like lately I have been running across a lot of quotes, songs, and examples of becoming stronger through hard things. Or maybe I am just noticing them more. But I tell you what, I find myself singing out loud with Kelly Clarkson, “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. Stand a little taller” whenever it is on! I need that reminder sometimes!
A couple weeks ago, my son’s soccer team had a tournament. Last year they won the whole thing for their division. We were all excited for this year’s victory. Well, the first game came Thursday morning. Now, I’m the manager so I keep track of who is going to be where and all the paperwork, etc. At the beginning of game time we only had 10 players there and I was frantically trying to find out if any others were going to show (there are supposed to be 11 on the field plus subs to take turns.) But no one else was coming. The boys were trying their hardest to stay positive and excited to go out and play hard.
I don’t know if I have mentioned it before, but I love this team. I love watching them play, interact and grow. They went out on the field, which was now a bigger size than they had been playing on, and played their hardest and we parents were all so proud. They were actually leading until they were visibly tired. But they didn’t stop – they fought hard until the end of the game. Then they got to rest for a couple hours and do it again! This time there were 11 players but still no subs. They, again, were leading until they wore out. But they didn’t stop! I know several of the boys went home for an ice bath after that one because they were back the next morning for another game with no subs.
While I watched them play that last game, I started thinking about what they were experiencing. I know that tournament was really hard work for them. Many of them were sore – one of them was literally limping off the field after the second and third games! They were tired and even a little disheartened from losing. But I also thought about how they were developing. Their muscles were strengthening from working them so hard. Their endurance was increasing because they didn’t get breaks. Their knowledge of how to move the ball on the field in new formations was improving. Because they went through this hard tournament, they were getting stronger in many ways!
That Sunday I went to church and one of the speakers quoted a poem I had heard before but hadn’t thought of much. I couldn’t believe it – another reminder that strength comes through hard things:
Good timber does not grow with ease,
The stronger wind, the stronger trees,
The further sky, the greater length,
The more the storm, the more the strength.
By sun and cold, by rain and snow,
In trees and men good timbers grow.
– Douglas Malloch (excerpt from Good Timber)
I think I need this reminder frequently right now. When things are hard, I need to focus on what I am learning. When I feel lonely, I need to focus on the strength I am getting from learning to turn even more to my Heavenly Father. And when I have a task to do that seems beyond my ability, I need to focus on the physical strength I am gaining. But, I’m not going to lie, sometimes I am just ready to be through and on the other side! I am close. I find peace more often than not. And I am sure that when I am on the other side and settled and happy, I will be grateful for all the ways I grew through this.
Sunshine and Rainstorms 