DynaMOTIVATION – Decisions

Proverbs says that a wise son brings delight to his father.

I think there is nothing more pleasant and delightful than to see your own children prosper; to see your own children work hard and persevere; to see your own children enjoy success, not because they fell into it, but because they committed themselves to a task and stuck with it. Truly, to see your own children walk in integrity and truth – to walk with the Lord.

Today was a cold day, below zero temperatures, dark and quiet at 5:30 in the morning, but this mother again saw the strong and diligent lass haul it out of bed to go to swimming practice. More than 50 swimmers could have gone to practice today, but less than 10 actually went. My daughter was one of them. This brings great delight to me. When I have a chance, I watch her swim from the track above the pool at the Wellness Center, and I thank God for her.

I don’t know how she does it, but she keeps doing it. It is brutal, but she keeps at it. Disappointed on many occasions because she doesn’t get another PR, but she keeps at it. And I am grateful.

I don’t know how she keeps the motivation. She surely doesn’t feel motivated much of the time, but she still chooses to keep at it. And I am grateful.

I don’t know how she comes home at night, after her second swim practice of the day or after working as a lifeguard, exhausted with lots of studying to do, and yet still takes time to encourage me, to let me know she cares about me, to give thoughtful insight beyond her years. She even gets up early to study when swimming doesn’t dictate an early morning practice. And I am grateful.

None of this is due to ability. It is all a “decision” on her part. Her diligent efforts are a choice. She makes this decision to do what is not easy, what is not convenient, what is not comfortable, to endure the pain of muscles burning in the water rather than slumber in her bed. And I am grateful.

She can’t begin to understand how her efforts bring delight to me. I have such respect and appreciation for how hard she works especially when she doesn’t see the gains she wants, but she keeps at it. And I am gratful.

How do I thank God for this? How do I communicate to my daughter that her hard work is such an inspiration to me to press on? How do I tell my daughter that her motivation and diligence exceed my own? How do I express that her one quiet action encourages me, strengthens me, teaches me, inspires me, challenges me; that I respect it, appreciate it, relish it, admire it, consider it a treasure; that I thank God for it every day? How does one cause a teenager to understand such things?

I am not sure of any of these answers, but this all keeps me humble and on my knees to give thanks, to ask for help, to wait for my strength to be renewed, to bask in His goodness, to continue on in my most important calling of being a mother.

It is a short word today, but when you lack motivation, remember that you are not alone. Don’t wait for the feeling to be there. Just press on like the swimmer who hauls it out of bed at 5:15 am even though she doesn’t feel like it, when the weather is cold and all is quiet, when there is no applause and little energy. Just press on and be grateful.

Thank you, Lord, for those who appear to be motivated even when they aren’t. Thank you, Lord, for the strength you give to all of us. Thank you, Lord, for my daughter who swims and brings me great delight.