Training

I had a great class today at prison with Dad's Lessons from the Sandlot. We discussed the little league stories and the importance of coaches,parents, and teachers. Several of the guys had stories of talent in sports. All of them had broken homes or parents that didn't discipline them. They repeated common themes of parents not wanting to see the rebellion and the pain of not feeling supported. The opportunity to quit always presented itself. One man lost a college scholarship and several didn't finish highschool. All of them agreed that the training from the early days is still with them. They are finishing their GED's and taking every opportunity to learn. So quitting can be temporary.
I have felt like quitting many things this year. It is too hard without Billy. Learning to write, publish this book, give talks, writing this blog are all things that require more discipline than I am comfortable with and yet I keep pressing forward. Because....I believe God. Because I have been encouraged and loved by family and friends.
THE MESSAGE: Hebrews 12:7-13 God is educating you, that's why you must never drop out. He's treating you as dear children. This trouble you're in isn't punishment, it's training, the normal experience of children......We respect out own parents for training and not spoiling us, so why not embrace God's training so we can truly live?.....It's the well-trained who find themselves mature in their relationship with God.