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Keep Showing Up

                Recently, the Estevan Motor Speedway crowned their track champions at their annual awards banquet.  One of the interesting stories of the night was that Joey Galloway won the Modified Division without winning a race.  Instead, the key to his success was consistency.  He just kept showing up and finishing in the top five every night.  While everyone wants to be the one holding the checkered flag at the end of the race night, Galloway proved that championships are built on steady performance over the long term.
                In a world that often focuses on the spectacular, it is good to remind ourselves that success usually comes from consistently doing ordinary, everyday tasks well.  Your kids may be impressed with your family vacation to Disneyland, but their lives will be shaped by how they are treated at home every day.  You may take your wife out for a big supper on your anniversary, but what she needs more is your kindness and love on a boring Tuesday night.  Your business may hold a “Customer Appreciation” event at Christmastime, but it is excellent customer service throughout the year that will earn their respect and their business.  More often than not, it’s the small, sometimes overlooked, details that carry the most weight.
                It should not surprise us, then, that “perseverance” is a big theme in the word of God.  Hebrews 12:1 encourages us to, “Run with perseverance the race marked out for us”.   Romans 5:3-4 tells us that “Suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope”.  James 1:4 says, “Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything”.  The seven churches mentioned in the book of Revelation are reminded that, at the end of time, the prize will be given to those who “overcome” the difficulties they face (Revelation 2-3).  Perseverance is one of the qualities of real love (1 Corinthians 13:7).
                Your plans will not always work out.  Difficulties will arise.  Your best efforts will always be less than perfect.  However, if you do your best, keep showing up and stay close to those you love, good things will happen.
                Life, both physical and spiritual, responds to consistency, not perfection.
                “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9).

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