Tag: not giving up

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Focus Friday: Let’s Focus on Not Giving Up

Fear often keeps us from doing something we really want to do.

I lived with a family in Madrid, Spain during my junior year of college. Early on in my stay, I wanted to go visit a museum that wasn’t within walking distance. My Spanish “Dad” explained that there was a bus stop about a block away where I could catch a certain bus and then transfer to another bus further up the line. I nodded and smiled as he explained, but inside I was a mess. Madrid was a big city and I didn’t have much experience with buses.

When the time came, I walked down to the bus stop, stood there for a few anxious minutes, and then went home and retreated to the safety of my room. When my “Dad” asked how it went, I brushed it off and said I had decided not to go, but he could probably see the shame all over my face.

I was just too scared.

Years later, I decided I wanted to give blood. I had never done it before because sometimes I felt faint just thinking about things like that. On the day of the blood drive, I went to the collection site, walked up to the door, held it open for someone else going in, then let it close and retreated to the safety of my car. I cried in frustration, but I couldn’t go in.

I was just too scared.

I’m happy to report that I didn’t give up in either situation. I had to give myself a little time, but I was determined that I’d try again.

I’ve given blood many times (and I’ve never fainted). Needles aren’t my favorite things, but I’m not too scared to face them so I can help someone who needs it.

In Madrid, I got used to public transportation and used it often to explore that wonderful city. The bus wasn’t my favorite way to get around, though. After I braved the subway and figured it out, I used it so much that my Spanish conversation partner dubbed me the “Queen of the Metro.” I learned to get over my fears so I could have new experiences.

There are many things in life that may scare us—especially the first time we try them.

Think of all we’d miss if we gave up after our first failed attempt.

Let’s try to give ourselves a little time and then try again. Each time it will get a little easier and we’ll feel more confident.

If you really want to do something, don’t give up.

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13 NKJV)

Do you want to give up when you’re too afraid to do something? How can focusing on God help you try again (and eventually succeed)?

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Focus Friday: Let’s Focus on Cream Puff Dessert

I made two pans of Cream Puff Dessert earlier this week. (I’ve included the recipe after this post.)

It’s one of my favorite things to take to our family get-togethers. It’s not too difficult to make and it tastes delicious.

It is kind of a weird process to make the cream puff base, though.

First you boil some water and butter, then add a cup of flour and mix until it’s smooth.

You let it cool a bit, and then add four eggs, one at a time.

This is where it gets a little weird. As you begin to stir, your nice smooth batter seems to fall apart.

You find yourself thinking “This can’t be right! It looks disgusting and slimy. Maybe I did something wrong.”

You stir and stir and stir some more…and finally the batter comes back together and looks a little more normal.

Then you add the next egg and the process starts all over again. Separation. Slime. Stirring, stirring, stirring until you feel like your hand is going to fall off.

Then it finally gets better.

After four eggs, you have a nice smooth batter.

You spread it into a pan and bake for a half hour.

You end up with a puffy base that gets a pudding layer and a whipped cream layer added to it after it cools.

Finally you drizzle some chocolate syrup on right before serving…and enjoy!

(This is not mine…mine is not this fancy and we ate it all before I thought of taking a picture.)

Now, I found myself thinking as I stirred this time.

Sometimes we add something to our life and it doesn’t feel good right away. It doesn’t seem like things are coming together right and we think we’ve ruined everything. We feel like giving up and starting over, or worse, not trying that again.

Maybe we try a new method of discipline with our children. We know they need it, but they resist. Loudly.

It’s tempting to give up and just go back to the way things were before, but if we persist and keep at it we just might get to a new, more pleasant, way of relating to our kids.

Perhaps we want to learn a new skill. We watch videos and read articles and books about painting, or writing, or finances, or underwater basket weaving. We begin our attempts, but it’s harder than we expected. The painting is not a Picasso, the writing project stinks, the bank account stays empty, and the basket sinks.

It’s tempting to give up and stick with what we already can do, but if we keep trying we may surprise ourselves with what we accomplish. A painting good enough to frame. A book with our name on it. A nice little nest egg. A cute little soggy basket.

When I’m making a Cream Puff Dessert, I have to remind myself that the stirring is important. I can’t stop while the mixture is still a slimy mess or the dessert won’t turn out right. I have to keep going. I have to remember that something good will come from my hard work.

I have to do that in life, too. I have to remember that something good will come from my hard work.

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest [or a Cream Puff Dessert] if we do not give up.” (Galatians 6:9 NIV)

Do you get tired of trying sometimes? How can focusing on God help you to persevere and keep going until you get to something good?

*Cream Puff Dessert (recipe from Sharon Tilstra, many years ago)
1/2 C. butter or margarine
1 C. water
1 C. flour
4 eggs
– Combine butter and water on stove in pan. When it starts to boil, add flour and mix ’til mixture forms a ball. Let cool a while, then add eggs one at a time.
– Spread in greased 9×13 pan. Bake at 400 degrees for 30 minutes.
– Cool.

Topping:
8 oz. cream cheese
2 small pkgs. instant french vanilla pudding
3 C. milk
– Beat cream cheese. Mix all together and spread over crust. Spread 8 oz. whipped topping over all and drizzle with chocolate syrup shortly before serving.