two words

For all the sad words of tongue and pen, the saddest are these: “It might have been.”
~John Greenleaf Whittier, “Don’t Quit”

I’m not sure what “quit” JGW had in mind when he wrote his poem. Things gone wrong, trudging up hill, funds low and debts high, all followed by a big ole’ sigh. We can feel his pain.

His challenge has become rather famous, Don’t Quit.

It brings me to the mail delivery this week. Finally the little package arrived with my word. Make that two words on a bracelet.

never quit. 1/12 of the year is behind me. 11/12 lies ahead to practice.

When I chose this sentiment, in the season I’m in, it seemed a good cheer. And it has been. Here is the way Innkeeper reframes it. “Don’t quit your day.”

It is tempting, isn’t it? Life gets tangled up. The day brings unwanted interruptions. We lose our focus. The weary heart says skip the chores. Time to veg out. The cheerful heart says, skip the chores. Let’s go shopping.

James Clear, from his book Atomic Habits, offers this: “I am what I daily do, not what I wish were true.”

The author of Hebrews says this: “Let us run with endurance and active persistence the race that is set before us.”

There is a straightforward charge to make the most of our days. And just as God has hand-designed my race, and yours, He gives the strength to run it.

The habits that help ground us in stormy weather serve up big benefits. You probably have heard this: First create habits, and then your habits create you. I’ll share a couple of Innkeeper’s grounding habits. Without this discipline, I can dither my life away.

Innkeeper’s Grounding Habits: (One small note. My alarm is set for 4:15 am. I need the extra hours to keep up. One day, the clock will go back to 5:15.)

** Keep appointment with God each morning. Reading the Bible and talking over my day with Him. ** Drink water first thing in the morning. ** On my big indoor track at the Inn🤗 walk 20 min. ** Office time. Reading, writing, studying, responding to emails… ** Prep meals in the morning. Mr. Innkeeper has been my helper. ** Welcome others! Right now, it is hard to have people over due to mom-care. But still, there are many opportunities to reach out and encourage, right?

It’s a quiet “miracle” of repetition. It makes actions easier over time. I have long sensed that there is comfort in a routine. That said, I am ready for a vacation, where I can dither along for many days, preferably somewhere warm.

Whatever your rhythms are or aren’t, us Never Quitters walk together. And it makes my heart glad.

Come, just as you are. margi

PS – A perfect time to share Innkeeper’s Walmart bargain. $1 tennies. They won’t work for race-running, but I can see them in my next vacation😊

Innkeeper’s