About a week ago, Jocelyn began crawling. It has been very exciting news for our family. She had been attempting to crawl for several weeks – getting up on her hands & knees, rocking & face planting herself on the floor – to no avail. And then, off she went.

It truly is an amazing process to watch in spite of the number of times I have watched children go through this stage. They try & try again, get frustrated, and fuss about their inability. They completely wear themselves out. At times, they put their head down to the floor & rest. But they do not give up.

Watching this process with Jocelyn, I realized this one thing –

BABY. STEPS. DO. MATTER.

Paul, in Philippians, writes this:

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 3:12-14 NIV

Our problem as adults is that we allow ourselves to give up. We focus on our inabilities. We think we will never gain ground or achieve our goals. Paul  advises:

1. It takes work. When he uses the words, “press on”, Paul is letting us know that it will take repetition or practice.
2. Do not focus on the past. He tells us to forget what is behind us. When we focus on the past, we will paralyze ourselves. We are  given a 24 hour segment of time, called TODAY, in which to work. Today is what matters. We are to let each day be a new adventure.
3. Look ahead. Paul uses athletic imagery here. He writes, “straining toward what is ahead”. He paints the picture of straining & stretching muscles, clear focus & complete dedication.

Jocelyn had no idea what lie ahead for her on that very first day that she got up on her hands & knees. She could not see that her horizon was about to broaden. She could not have imagined all that her determination would achieve – new drawers to open, planters to get into, tables that she would get to pull herself up onto, safety plugs & gates. That first day of mobility slowly opened a new beginning.

So here we are. Twenty four hours of time. What challenges lie for you within this segment of time called today? May you remember…..

                             BABY. STEPS. DO. MATTER.

I also linked up at Titus Tuesday.