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How do you eat an elephant?
It’s always an adventure trying to write this column. Truthfully, I never really know what I’m going to end up writing about from week to week, but one thing I do know is that I have to “Put Him First” or I’ll go on and on about absolutely nothing. I love this website. It’s a challenge to write a column every week, but it makes it so much easier to have that “Put Him First” mentality. What I mean is that whenever I’m at a stand still or I don’t know what to write, I just think about what this website is all about. When your focus is on Christ, you can’t be steered wrong. I truly believe that. It’s when you get off track and start looking to the left and the right that things tend to get out of control.
In saying all that, that leads me to the question: How do you eat an elephant? I had never heard that saying before until the other day when I was reading, and I thought to myself, that might be something fun to write about. In case you never heard the saying it goes: “How do you eat an elephant?” Answer: “One bite at a time.” In life, sometimes we get stressed out over all the things that come our way. The problems look huge (like an elephant), our schedules are jam-packed and we have so much on our plate that it seems we will never get anything accomplished. Instead of freaking out and getting all worked up, we need to tackle our tasks “one bite at a time.”
When I was younger (years upon years ago), I used to enjoy doing puzzles. I would put them together, glue my finished product to a board and hang it up at my grandparent’s house. One thing I learned about puzzles is that it takes time and effort to piece the thing together. You just don’t open the box, drop all the pieces on the table and it automatically makes by itself. You have to put it together piece by piece. I’d see the finished picture on the outside of the box, look at all the pieces scattered on the table and have to figure out how to get from where I was to where I needed to be.
We live in a society of quick fixes and fast foods. No patience. Everything has to be NOW, NOW, NOW! How many know that mindset doesn’t work in Christianity? It’s a process. God has to mold us and shape us. I know that I wouldn’t be where I am today if I wouldn’t have let God do that work in my life, and I know that He still has a lot of work to do on me. It hasn’t been easy. Many times I’ve tried to force two pieces of the puzzle together that don’t fit, and that always turns out to be just a waste of time and effort.
Like most people, I like things done right away, but I have learned that patience is a virtue. If you don’t have patience, I recommend you spend a couple of weeks in Houston traffic and you’ll learn real quick. Or spend a little time with my sister, she’s always saying, “patience is a virtue, patience is a virtue, patience is a virtue,” and trust me sharing an apartment with her has taught me that (JK Celina).
Step by step, day by day, we have to learn to keep perspective on the task in front of us. I look back at my life and can trace the steps I’ve taken that’s brought me this far. In writing this weekly column, I’ve learned a lot about myself. I was reading some of my old papers and stories from high school and college the other day and I’ve realized that my writing has improved dramatically. I know that putting in the effort of going to school and learning how to write has polished the skill that God has given me. Also, I know that by studying God’s word and by praying and seeking Him, it has helped me better relate His word to all of you. In everything I do, I try to “Put Him First.” I always pray, “God give me the words to write.” I know that I can’t do it on my own. I can be pretty clever with words at times, but if I want power behind those words, I know that it only comes through Him. After all, it is Him that holds the words of eternal life.
Life gets complex at times, but I know that as long as I keep my priorities in order, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13). Let us remember to always “Put Him First” as we try to piece together this puzzle called life. Continue to keep your eyes fixed upon Jesus, and let Him be the keeper of your steps. When the task before you seems impossible and you think you will never be able to accomplish what needs to be done, when your problems seem larger than life, when everything seems out of order, just get out a fork and a knife and eat that elephant one bite at a time. God Bless.
(DON’T FORGET TO TELL A FRIEND ABOUT PUTHIMFIRST.COM)
w/muchluv,
geno
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