Encourage-Her Community

Last night, as I was working on my computer, I could hear the TV on in the background. Gradually, the TV started to catch my attention and before long, I found myself watching the ESPY's. I don't watch much TV, and I don't recall ever seeing the ESPY's. If you are as unfamiliar as I was, the ESPY which stands for Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly Awards is an annual awards show produced by ESPN. During the show, a few athletes are recognized for their accomplishments throughout the previous year with an ESPY Award.

There are many different ESPY awards given. This year, the Pat Tillman Award For Service went to Prince Harry for his founding work of the Invictus Games. This morning, it sounds as if there is controversy about his receiving the award, but I don't want to talk about the controversy. For just a moment, I want to highlight a little story within the Invictus story. The story of Michelle Turner. The Invictus Games was started 10 years ago as a means to help wounded, injured, and sick servicemen and women from all around the world recover and restore their purpose, identity, and future. Before watching the awards show, I had no idea who Michelle was, but I should have.

Michelle Turner is a veteran of the Royal Air Force who served for 21 years after getting a virus that impacted her heart and caused her to faint without notice at any time and many times. Her condition forced her to retire from the military and sent her into a place of feeling without purpose. She was invited to the Invictus Games and didn't think she could compete, but her family encouraged her. Despite not having been a swimmer, she tried something new and started swimming. She trained with a new purpose, to make her daughter proud, and became determined to compete in her first Invictus Games. https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=355638443733310

Guess what? She finished her event and came in last place! As she finished, the entire natatorium of people including her daughter and husband were cheering wildly for her. She did it! She went from being afraid to leave her house for fear she would pass out to a standing ovation in the "pool house". She had been disabled but would not be defined by her disability. She had been detoured but discovered a new direction. She had been discouraged but found the courage to conquer her fear. It didn't matter her finishing place, she was undefeated!

Have you ever felt defeated and didn't think you could muster the strength to keep going? I have. Even just last night, I was feeling discouraged and ready to quit, but then I heard Michelle's story. May Michelle's courage contagiously remind us we are not defeated. We may have been knocked down, but we will get back up again. We may be moving slow, but we will hold fast. We may finish in last place, but we will remain undefeated.

What is your secret to combatting the feeling of defeat?

I love to hear stories of others who overcome. Their stories offer hope, but my most reliable way is to turn to reading my Bible. Here are a few of my favorite passages which have helped my along my way.

Do not gloat over me, my enemies! For though I fall, I will rise again. Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light. (Micah 7:8 NLT)

Let's hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering; for he who promised is faithful. (Hebrews 10:23 WMB)

No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. (Romans 8:37 NLT)

Do you think there is a difference between persistence and tenacity?

If so, how would you describe the difference?

I think so, and this is how I describe the difference...

Persistence is going after something steadily, constantly, and wholeheartedly but in the same way over and over again. Sometimes, this works out, and you realize the vision or achieve the goal. Sometimes, you get too tired to keep going, and you stop before the finish.

Tenacity is also going after something steadily, constantly, and wholeheartedly, but not necessarily in the same way over and over again. Instead, you adjust the strategy, the plan, the attack, or the game plan to realize your goal.

Have you ever thought of resting as a way of adjusting?

Sometimes, resting allows us to adjust our thinking and tenaciously step forward with fresh strength as well as a new outlook!

May I suggest rest? Rest allows our bodies to repair, our minds to renew and our spirits to re-energize. Don't underestimate the power of rest as you tenaciously pursue your best!