“Mom? Has it been 10 minutes yet?”
“No, son, it’s only been 3 minutes. Keep practicing…”
10 Minutes A Day…
He’s nine and he plays the cello. If he’s anything like his older sisters, he’ll soon fall in love with his stringed instrument and lose himself for an hour or more in the music. But, for now, the seconds pass like years and he loses himself in the music for all of 180 seconds.
My daughters started the same way. 10 minutes day, but it’s been years now.
It baffles my mind how those 10 minutes a day somehow transform my children into keepers of beautiful music. Just 10 minutes a day and now the notes that resonate in our home each evening soothe this savage mama beast.
There is something shockingly powerful about faithfulness. We often overlook it in our society of reality television shows filled with overnight transformations.
Spasmodic Hercules
But 19th century author Anthony Trollope said it best…“A small daily task, if it be really daily, will beat the labours of a spasmodic Hercules.”
If that isn’t the best phrase ever, I don’t know what is.
Spasmodic Hercules. I know exactly what that is.
It’s me with my New Years Resolutions. It’s me when I’ve had enough with the mess in my home and I clean from top to bottom in a day only to ignore it for a month. It’s me when my clothes don’t fit like I want them to and I decide I’ll run all the miles all the days…until I’ve had enough and hang up my running shoes for a year.
I am a spasmodic Hercules.
But I’ve been working on faithfulness because I’ve seen it’s power to transform. It’s not glamorous or sensational, but it always, always brings change.
The Power of Persistence
“A river cuts through rock, not because of it’s power, but because of it’s persistence.” – Jim Rohn
I’ve seen how tiny drops of water, flowing together, forge a canyon.
I’ve seen how simple faithful practice transforms children into athletes and musicians. I’ve seen how the faithful love of a husband chips away at the stubborn heart of a wife.
I’ve seen how the faithful instruction of a teacher fans into flame a student’s passion for knowledge. I’ve seen how faithful investment into a friendship builds an unbreakable bond.
Small Beginnings
“Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin…” Zech 4:10
My friend, wherever you may find yourself today, whatever lack you may feel or whatever mountain you may be facing, do not despise these small beginnings.
- Take that seemingly small step toward a healthier life.
- Say that single prayer for your marriage every morning.
- Clean that one room each day.
- Read those 3 pages before bed.
- Play that 1 song on the instrument you long ago laid down.
- Write those few lines in your morning journal.
- Take that one class toward your degree.
- Go for that evening walk, even if it’s just to the mailbox.
- Invite that new friend to coffee on Fridays.
Unbreakable Change
Your small faithful investment brings with it the power of compound interest, so don’t be distracted or discouraged by those overnight transformations – those spasmodic Hercules.
You just keep doing what you do every day and watch those daily tasks bring unshakeable and unbreakable change.
