Doing Hard Things

On Sunday, I was introduced to a book, concept, ideal that I am going to do some serious research on. It is a youth movement that I am going to do some serious praying that my children will pick up as they head into their teen years. From what little that I do know of it, it will require a lot on my part as well. Oh my. Grab those boot straps and hang on tight....

The book is called Do Hard Things by Alex and Brett Harris. They are nineteen years old. On the brief start that we have had on their book, I am blown away by the things they have done....starting at the age of 16. Their book talks about the concepts that they had developed out of their blog called the Rebelution. Unbelievable quick, like three weeks after its conception, their teen blog was picked up by the New York Daily News. Their blog, now a website, has become a counterculture experience amongst Christian teens.

The battle cry for The Rebelution is Do Hard Things. I can't say it any better than they already have on their website, so I will quote them now. ""Do hard things" is a mentality. It's a mentality that flies right in the face of our culture's low expectations. The world says, "You're young, have fun!" It tells us to "obey your thirst" and "just do it." Or it tells us, "You're great! You don't need to exert yourself." But those kinds of mindsets sabotage biblical character and competence. "Do Hard Things" is just the opposite. It's how we build character and competence. It won't drop to meet the low expectations, it won't just do what comes easily, and it won't become complacent. It applies no matter who you are or what level you're on, because there's always something harder to do, something that will take you outside your comfort zone and cause you to grow." They are calling the youth of our society today to rebel against the societal norm of low expectations. Our society does not expect great things from our youth. Low expectations.

"Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity." I Timothy 4:12

In essence, these young men are calling our youth to rebel against rebellion. I so want that for my kids. I want them to have confidence in themselves and to desire greatness in their own lives. I am not entirely sure on how to plant the seeds of these thoughts in the hearts and minds of my children. I know that I am going to now start praying my heart out about these ideas. It is going to be hard. But, I think I must do hard things. (I think their ideas apply to adults...as well as our youth!) But....I am lazy at heart. Pure lazy. I love going the easy route. But do I want that for my kids? No way.

So...I guess...to start...I talk with my little Rebels about rising over the laziness, and fears to do hard things. To find success like an adrenaline rush. To find and experience the thrill of victories. I also need to start praying for a wisdom beyond anything I have ever had before.

Gonna have to do some hard things.

Rallying the Troops

Last fall, I remember giving God the glory for Luke's desire and excitement for swimming lessons. He has still been doing pretty good with that. He has now progressed to a higher class that is demanding a little more from him than he has had in the past. He has had a really good teacher that I have been pleased with. A lot of progress has been made...and I am thankful.

Here's the rub. This teacher is not pussy-footing around with Luke any more. That is good and bad. I've seen this teacher knuckle under with him a little more about listening.....as well as stretching Luke and his abilities. Needless to say, Luke is finding that not completely up to his liking. Luke likes to be lazy and do things his way.

The last two Mondays, as we have headed to swim lessons, Luke has started to do his whining and complaining about not wanting to go. On the other hand, he has also been excited and has had a lot of fun when his lessons were over. He even threw a little fit about not being able to have his lessons on Friday, when Daria and Caden had their lessons. Luke and I had a little talk about his attitude this morning. I told him he could either do the lessons the hard way, where I drag his little reluctant body to the pool and he's miserable doing it. Or....it could be the easy way, where he goes willingly and has a fun time while he's at it. He wasn't too sure about all that.

We also talked about Doing Hard Things. I will probably blog more about that thought tomorrow...but I wanted to rally my praying friends around me over this silly little issue. I so do not want to go back to the knock-down, drag-out, ugly fights that we had last year. It was so not fun. But....these swim lessons are important to me. AND....this little boy needs to be stretched. He's too use to being the baby.

So, I am praying for good attitudes....a renewed excitment....a victory that he notices and experiences. It is hard to explain that last thought. I want him to notice the victory...to be proud of himself and realize his own abilities....to want to go out and conquer the next big hurdle.

I hate to say it...but I guess I am praying that my Little Man Cub grows up a little.

I can't believe I just said that.

Very Brief Update on David Howard

Okay...this update is extremely brief. Tim and his brother are not necessarily known as Men of Many Words. That I have a brief update at all is amazing.

Tim emailed his brother yesterday about David. The response was that he is still in the hospital and they hope to bring him home on Friday.....which would be today. They also hope to bring him to my in-laws house on Mother's day.

There you go. That is the complete and utter sum of the update. Me...I have a ton of other questions......but at least it was something.

David Howard

My mother in law called tonight with a prayer request for our nephew, David Howard. He has been home from the hospital following his surgery for almost two weeks. Apparently, Tony and Rachel will be taking him back to the hospital either tonight or tomorrow.

The last I had heard, he was doing well, so I was a little surprised to receive this request tonight. He is currently having symptoms that are similar to the bacterial infection he had that bumped up his surgery plans. He is lethargic, not eating, diarrhea, and fever. I can only imagine Tony and Rachel's level of stress.

If you think of little David throughout your day, please pray for him and his family.

Thank you.

editing to add: Rachel just sent an email....they are taking him to the hospital tonight.

God is in the business of answering prayers.

I thought and thought of another title for today's posting....but nothing seemed to rise to the surface. What I wanted to blog about today was completely an answer to prayer, so I just had to title it what I did. There is just no other way to call it. I am excited to report a wonderful answer to prayer!

It seems like I am often blogging about Luke, my precious little man. I think I have said before that he has brought me to my knees more times than the other two combined. He is a precious boy with a definite mind of his own! He definitely made his opinion known about swimming lessons last year, that's for sure!

For my children to learn how to swim has been an important goal for me as a Mom. Tim doesn't know how to swim....and he really has no idea at the fun that he is missing. My kids have always loved playing in the water, so I was a little dumbstruck to find that Luke hated swim lessons last year. Swim lesson days became the most miserable days for Luke and I. Even if I didn't tell him we were headed to the pool, he seemed to know and the kicking and screaming would begin. It was horrible. At first, I thought it was an authority issue, but after a while, I honestly think he began to develop a fear. Over time, and with discussions with other moms, I think he had a fear of the teacher....not the water. After much wrestling with my thoughts...and with him...I decided to lay swimming lessons down for a while....and revisit the topic another time.

Fast forward about 9 months. Luke had his first swim lesson of the year today. We have been talking about them for about 2 months. At first, he would instantly start his tantrums. Then, slowly he began to discuss it with me. Finally, he seemed a little excited about them. When I mentioned to him this morning that we were headed to swim lessons, he started to cry a little. He did not want to go. I am not sure what happened, but all of a sudden he snapped out of it and was all revved up to go. He even wanted to take a painting that he had done to his teacher. What an answer to prayer!!!! I wanted to do a little dance right there....but we still had to actually get in the pool!!

When we got to the pool, he was really excited. He got himself dressed and ran out there. He was really excited to get in the pool. We were early so we had to wait. He was still excited; but, when we had to go talk to his teacher, I hear this little voice: "Mom, I'm nervous about this." We talked about it a little. I shared that nervousness with this teacher. The next thing, I know, he is sitting on the edge of the pool chatting away at this teacher. He was a little hesitant at first when she asked him to get his belly button wet...but he finished the lesson off and did everything he was asked to do. When I told him that I was proud of him for how well he did at lessons, he said: "Thanks, Mom!" He is very anxious for his next lesson....he had a lot of fun!!

Now, I consider this a downright miracle! I am convinced that God is the only one who can change that little boy's mind! God is so good. He really does care about the little details in our lives. Hopefully I will be able to report that Luke is floating on his own soon! Anyway....I just had to share my dancing-with-joy moment of the day!!