My husband would laugh and carry on riding in the little skid steer back and forth while I would rake rocks and dirt. I tried suggesting I drive the skid steer, but he assured me that was not a good idea. Scott, who is nearly 200 pounds of solid muscle, was running circles around me—literally. If he wasn’t driving and dumping dirt and rock in front of me, he was hopping off the equipment and raking to help me catch up. I could not keep the pace. By 5 p.m., I was whipped.
My last words as I sat the rake down were. . . “I’m a girl, a girl in menopause!” That brought about a few laughs. Nevertheless, my husband didn’t stop.
He was the first one outside that morning and the last one in that night. He clocked over 16-hours in the yard that day. I did not have an ounce of energy left. I could barely rock in the rocking chair on the front porch.
You have heard, “These boots are made for walking,” well these fingers were made for typing. I was made to type words like you are reading now! As you know, manual labor is exhausting, especially as you get older. Those who do this hard, manual labor day-in-and-day-out deserve more than a bottle of water or glass of fresh squeezed lemonade. They deserve gratitude and recognition! This project made me realize what a wimpy, sparkle-loving little girl I have become.
I looked out into the evening darkness at my husband from the comforts of the front porch rocking chair. He was the last man standing. I left him. I felt guilty sitting down on the sidelines. But I could not help.
The next morning, having a few extra aches and pains, I slowly moved out of bed to get my Bible and spend time with God. I opened my Bible where I left off the day earlier, in John 16. I read John 16:31-33 which says:
Jesus answered them, ‛Do you now believe? Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me. I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world’ (ESV).
God began raking at my heart. Before Jesus was betrayed and arrested, He had a conversation with His disciples, those closest to Him. He warned them the hard hour had come and that they would soon all be scattered. He told the disciples they would leave Him alone but assured them even when they left Him, God was with Him!
I left my husband to do the hard work alone. Would I have scattered when the going got tough and left Jesus alone too? I’m sure of it. If the disciples that had walked with Jesus left Him alone, certainly I would have left Him.
There are some things I need to toughen up and work on both physically and spiritually. Sometimes I think I am stronger than I really am. What about you? Do you need to get some spiritual muscle and grit to be the last man standing, rather than the first one leaving? It’s not about what you think you would do or can do, but rather what you physically do when the going gets tough! Actions speak.
Pray and ask God to strengthen you to stand strong for Him no matter the cost! Ask Him when things get hard, to give you the strength to stand for Him and with Him.
