Are You Feeling A Little Invisible Lately?

I don't know about you but I'm feeling a little invisible lately.  I'm doing lots of things that are taking lots of time.  No microwave results and no overnight successes.  This may be why I was encouraged lately to read these quotes:

• “It takes about 6 years to become an overnight success.”–Seth Godin
• “Give me the child until he is seven, I'll give you the man.”–St. Francis Xavier
• “Love life, engage in it, give it all you've got. love it with a passion, because life truly does give back, many times over, what you put into it”–Maya Angelou

Most often the things we work at day in day out will show little progress that we can actually see.  We're too close to it.  We are wanting the result so badly and from one day to the next it is nearly impossible to see the incremental improvement whether it be in business, parenting, or our marriage.  I want to encourage you to press on and not give up.  The enemy wants you to believe that what you do today won't matter much but today is all that ever has mattered.  What you do today matters.  The time you spend encouraging your child today matters.  The dinner you provide your family tonight matters.  That one load of laundry you accomplished will keep you in clean underwear this week.  Today matters!

Just because you don't see it yet doesn't mean it isn't working.  Keep it up.  Did you count out your serving of pretzels instead of eating mindlessly out of the bag?  Did you memorize a Bible verse this week?  Did you walk more instead of plopping down on the couch?  Did you encourage your husband when he was frustrated instead of allowing him to frustrate you?  It all matters.  You are moving in the right direction.  One day you will reach your breakthrough and the rest of the world will understand what you've been up to.

• Maybe it will be when your child accomplishes something beyond your wildest dreams
• Maybe it will be when your husband surprises you with an amazing party full of your friends and family
• Maybe it will be the big promotion at work
• Maybe at your 40th wedding anniversary

Or maybe you won't have huge fanfare with your breakthrough.  Maybe it will be as simple as your 3 year old saying to a friend, “Thanks for having us!” without prompting.  Or maybe it is a sweet smile and hand squeeze from your hubbie as you snuggle on the couch or maybe it is a co-worker who is encouraged by your good attitude as you persevere under difficult circumstances.  Or maybe no one but God will ever understand why you do what you do.  For me I am learning that the latter is enough.  Don't get me wrong…I still want breakthroughs and flowers and recognition for hard work but I am now certain that doing work worth doing is reason to continue enough.

^“Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 1:6 NIV

Share your successes with me!  Leave a comment sharing something you've done, are working on, or that you just want to get an “atta girl” for.  We're all in this together!