Keep on keepin' on.

31 Lessons from an Epic Beginner // 19: Keep on keepin' on.

Day 19 of 31 Lessons from an Epic Beginner

Last year I spent a weekend away at a conference. Husband took off work and watched the kids, while I stayed up late, woke up early, and drank too much coffee and not enough water. The last night, after staying up until 1:30a and waking up at 4:30a to catch an early flight home--I was exhausted.

I'm not sure exhausted really drives the point home enough. I was dehydrated and a little shaky, with a growing headache and some nausea. By the time the first flight landed, I was about to pass out. Or throw up. Or both.

The captain announced the airbridge was jammed and we would not be getting off our flight until someone could fix it. The people sitting either side of me looked away and seemed nervous as I started breathing heavy, leaning forward with my head in my hands.

I'm also halfway panicking about making my next flight, because the 20 minute layover was impossible to catch even without this fun little delay and my unstable existence. Finally we made it off, I checked where my next flight would be leaving, and start running like crazy to the opposite side of the airport.

I've never literally all-out ran through an airport like that. And I've never ran while nauseated and shaky and parched. Periodically, I'd stop on a moving walkway, bend over breathing heavy to catch my breath and half thought about giving up.

The one thing that kept me going--through the miserableness I was feeling--was thoughts of home. Kisses from my sweet babes, and sinking into my husband's firm embrace. No more running or rushing. A cool glass of cleansing water, and hope turned reality that the effort was worth it.

And it was. Because I made my flight with time to spare (a miracle on its own).

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When I use the phrase "keep on keepin' on" (and maybe I do a little too often), that's what I'm meaning to say. Is that the miserableness we sometimes find ourselves in here--just hang in there and keep stepping forward, because we will get there. The King is waiting to let us collapse in His firm embrace, kissing our sweet loved ones we miss so much. Endless refreshment in the glow of Jesus, and hope turned reality that the effort was worth it.

We're almost home, friends. It may not always feel like it, and sometimes our weakness makes us want to just give up and catch the next flight. But that's not an option. In Him is our strength and perseverance. By His grace, we'll be there soon.



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Let's talk about Heaven and what we're looking forward to there!


Day 19 of 31 Lessons from an Epic Beginner