Hard Way

The easy way out is never easy in the end. You always have to play some kind of catch-up or pay a huge fee of some kind.

My Dad always says, "Do the hard stuff first." Then you could take it a bit easier as you get older. That wisdom is true for schooling, work and even taking care of your health.

Instead of taking a year off before starting college, jump in with both feet--work through summer school and finish early. Even some high schools have ways to dual enroll in college--that way your two year degree is free!

Instead of waiting by the phone and computer for that job to pop up after sending out hundreds of resumes, volunteer in your field and do all the hard work. It builds up your experience, gets your mind off the wait, and you might catch some employer's eye with your dedication.

Start the day with something healthy instead of a doughnut or sugar bombs. By 10:00am your body will thank you by not crashing and you can reward it with a healthy snack before lunch. Avoid elevators and close parking spots--make those legs work harder and you'll have more energy by the end of the day, and a healthier heart in your 50's.

Taking the harder road is normally best these days, especially with all the time-saving, sweat sparing gadgets out there. Someone is always ready to take your money in exchange for the amount of time it might take you to work and get a better result.

The discipline muscle is the hardest and also the most rewarding part of your self to exercise. If you can conquer that, you will win whenever your body or emotions whine to pull over and take the easy escalator to what you think is the next level.

There is One who is the model of discipline. His name is Jesus and He knew what obedience of the will was all about. Even as a child, He hit the books. Later on a trip to Jerusalem, His parents found Him in the temple--debating scripture with rabbis when He was 12. There was no begging for sight-seeing jaunts to the pyramids or the camel farm! (Luke 2:41-52)

When He stepped up to the challenge God had for Him, He went toe-to-toe with the devil himself and won. (Matthew 4:1-11)

And even in the garden, when His path was clearly laid out for the cross and Death was near, He prayed to God, "Not my will but Yours." (Luke 22:39-46)

Think about it. The only time God ever asks you to take the easy road is in accepting His gift of His son's sacrifice on the cross for your sins. Because there is no amount of schooling, overtime hours or strenuous physical activity you can do to attain that forgiveness.

The hard stuff was already done by Christ. The only difficult part left to do is accept the free gift He offers. And to some, that seems too easy to believe.

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, {it is} the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. Ephesians 2:8-9