Yesterday, my Fitbit reported that I walked 33,953 steps or a total of 13.96 miles. I don’t remembering walking that far in a single day before in my life. And, I was surprised at the numbers.  (I realize that to some of you, that is just a warm up. To me, it’s a big deal!!)

I posted the information on my Facebook page and a friend asked “On purpose or accident?” How funny!

We were doing our last preps for “Love’s Story,” our church’s live Nativity (and more). It wan’t that I planned to walk that much, I just did. I had hoped this morning’s weight scale would give me some credit for that mileage, instead my weight was up a tad. Guess I didn’t walk off the Christmas Rotary dinner from the night before!! And, those Christmas cookies didn’t help either. 

I got to thinking about walking that far. If I had decided to walk 14 miles on a treadmill, even if I had earbuds and “Law and Order” was on the TV, I am not sure that I could do it. So, what is the difference?

• I really did walk that far “by accident.” My goal wasn’t to walk, my goal was to get that extension cord, move that box of paper, start the bonfire. My goal was not distance; my goal was to get the job done. 
• The walk took place over a 16 hour day. Too often we look at a task and,  because we worry that it has to all be done now, we are overwhelmed. The wiser course may be to look to finish the next task, not the whole project
• Last, I loved what I was doing, the people around me and the Lord we serve. It wasn’t the “Jill Show.” It amazes me how much people can do when the task is love-based. A woman, late in her pregnancy will seek every opportunity to rest and to sleep. Then, as soon as that precious baby is born, that new Mom is able to go years without much sleep. A Dad will spend hours kicking a soccer ball to help a child excel in a sport that the Dad didn’t even understand until that little one signed up to play it. We do things more easily when we do them for love. 

The holiday season is getting into full swing. Want to reduce your stress? Quit looking at how much you have to do and focus on the ones and the One for whom you work. It will make all the difference in the world!!
Love,

Jill (just one of God’s kids). 

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Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfector of our faith. (Hebrews 12:1b-2a)