~ by Terry Walters
1 Peter 1:15-16; 2 Timothy 4:3
We played all kinds of games when
we were growing up in the 1950 - 60s.
As for sports, it was mostly
football, basketball, baseball, and track.
When not an organized school sport,
we mostly played ball, not track and field.
However, every now and then we would do a little of that, too.
Someone would get the idea for us to build
a high-jump stand and practice that.
We would rummage around a few garages and sheds
until we found two posts or boards for the uprights
and perhaps a cane pole or anything long
and straight and lightweight for the crossbar.
We would put nails at equal heights
every two inches or so up the uprights
and dig a couple of holes in the ground
to stand the posts up in.
The crossbar would rest on the nails,
and we would take turns running and jumping over the bar.
Every success moved the bar up a notch.
If you struggled to clear the next height,
it did no good to lower the bar.
Oh, you could then clear that,
but you had already done that before.
Lowering the bar doesn't help you jump a higher bar.
Only practice and effort do that.
It's the same in life. Lowering the bar is settling
for past accomplishments rather than pressing on for more.
The world does that so often.
Lower the bar. Drop the standards. Level the playing ground.
Lower the test requirements. Take away incentives to do well.
God has standards and He doesn't lower them.
He will help you reach them if you try.
Don't give up. Work hard and trust God.
Be a high-jumper!
Prayer: Thank You, Lord, for never settling for less than perfection
in Your own character and actions.
Help us to strive for the same,
knowing that with Your help we can get better each day
until the day we see You face to face.
Books by Terry - My Blog - My Facebook Page - Good Ol' Days Devotions - Daily Devotions Page