The Keys To The Kingdom
by Hannah Keeley
I was walking through the kitchen the other day and saw my 15-year-old son, Karis, bent over with his head in the fridge trying to find something to eat. This is a fixture around here–teenagers foraging in the fridge day and night. But this time, I didn’t expect to see what I saw…
His arm was holding the door of the fridge open and there it was, plain as day…
MUSCLES!
Now, it wasn’t like he looked like a power lifter or anything, but they were definitely there–clearly defined tricep and bicep muscles. Then I remembered that every time he goes into the pantry (which is several times a day), he does a couple of pull-ups on the bar we have hanging over the door.
At the time, it didn’t seem like a lot of effort. Just one or two pull-ups here and there. But added up, they make a serious difference!
It truly is the little things that mean the most. It’s not the big, week-long decluttering sessions that make a difference. It’s having the discipline to clean up or put away one item at a time. It’s not the 7-day juice fast, it’s the discipline to avoid getting seconds after the meal, or leave that last bite of dessert on the plate.
The good news is that although it takes discipline to develop these small habits, once you got ’em, you got ’em! Just like the little leaks sink the biggest ships, the little efforts can build the biggest success stories. Think about some of these “small things” you can do that will add up exponentially over time:
* Getting up half an hour early to read the Bible.
* Walking a mile after dinner.
* Folding the load as soon as you pull it out of the dryer.
* Drinking a healthy smoothie for breakfast every day.
* Greeting your husband with a big, wet kiss.
* Cleaning the kitchen as soon as you finish dinner.
* Speaking a blessing over your children when you tuck them in.
* Doing 20 crunches during commercial breaks.
See what I mean? It’s not the big, earth-shaking things… it’s the little efforts that you take every day to push yourself just a little bit further. These add up, and before you know it, you can really see the difference!
Jeremiah 6:16 says to “ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.” The good way is the good habits we build. It’s a constant “walking”–not sprinting or long-jumping, just a continual, even walk. Every day, take a good look at the little steps you take. Start developing the good habits of following through on a task, doing a little bit extra, or even squeezing in those two pull-ups when you walk into the pantry!
You’ll be happy you did!
Now, as to how to prevent teenagers from raiding your fridge…I’m still working on that one!
~ Hannah
Hannah Keeley was once in overwhelmed mom living in a cluttered house, deep in debt, out of shape, and barely hanging on. But one day, after finding herself sobbing uncontrollably into a pile of clean laundry, she realized God has bigger and better plans for her (just like He does for each one of His children). Beginning that day, she began making changes in her life that took her from overwhelmed to overjoyed. Today, she’s helping moms do the same. Hannah, her husband, Blair, and their seven children live in Richmond, Virginia, and are having the time of their lives!
