During this weekend's regatta (a crew race) I told my crew, "Your pain is temporary, but victory is long lasting." As their coxswain, I knew they were going to have to push hard during a 2K race and give everything they had. I could not be more proud of my crew who pushed through their aching muscles and got 2nd place. Now we rejoice in our win and the pain of 8 minute fatiguing race is mostly forgotten and well worth it.
While my teammates experienced the pain of pushing themselves to strength they didn't know they had, I took experienced pain over the weekend. Riding six hours on a bus while my teammates sang along to High School Musical, I spent my time completely motion sick and throwing up in plastic bags for the first half of the drive. In that moment all I could do was pray, begging God for strength. Those first three hours I wondered why in the world God was putting me on the horrible bus ride, but halfway through, I began to feel better. I joined in with the songs. I got to have conversations with my teammates and I got to strengthen friendships. Yes, I didn't ride the bus back (I drove home with my mom), but I am grateful I got to ride that bus. I made memories that will last a lifetime and the pain I endured was short lived compared to the happy moments I will remember forever.
The weekend was difficult by many means. I was pushed outside of my comfort zone a lot, and my stomach wasn't nice to me as I continued to puke and feel nauseous. I came back sick with a cold and a open blister on my toe, but as I sit in bed looking back at the pictures and videos from the weekend I would do it all over again. Every discomfort, every time I felt like I couldn't do it, God placed people in my life to help me through. I became closer with my teammates who bandaged my foot, stayed next to me as I dry heaved on the side of the road, and woke up at 6am just to watch me race. Because now that it's over I remember the people who encouraged me, I remember the smiles, I remember the laughs, and I remember all the good parts. And at the end of the day, the good memories outweigh every pain I experienced.
"What doesn't kill you makes you stronger," Stronger; Kelly Clarkson
We all experience pain. Everyone can relate to the sharp piercing pain of a deep cut, the stomach pains before vomiting, and the heartbreaking pain when you realize you meant nothing to someone. I clearly remember nights crying out to God asking him to heal my pain. When you sit there wondering why you must endure something so painful. But here's the thing, no one would ever choose to experience pain. If I had planned how the weekend would go, I promise you it wouldn't have included me getting sick and getting about four hours of sleep. But, if that hadn't happened I don't think I would have realized how strong my friendships are. I don't think I would trust my teammates more. I don't think I would realize I'm strong on my own. So, yeah I wouldn't have chosen to have those miserable moments over the weekend, but it gave me perspective. God knew exactly what he was doing this weekend. He knew I needed some pain in my life to show me something bigger.
Embrace your pain. Yeah, it sucks. No it's not something we choose to endure, but remember your pain comes as a part of a plan. Remember pain is always temporary, but the bigger message that often occurs from pain is long lasting.
While my teammates experienced the pain of pushing themselves to strength they didn't know they had, I took experienced pain over the weekend. Riding six hours on a bus while my teammates sang along to High School Musical, I spent my time completely motion sick and throwing up in plastic bags for the first half of the drive. In that moment all I could do was pray, begging God for strength. Those first three hours I wondered why in the world God was putting me on the horrible bus ride, but halfway through, I began to feel better. I joined in with the songs. I got to have conversations with my teammates and I got to strengthen friendships. Yes, I didn't ride the bus back (I drove home with my mom), but I am grateful I got to ride that bus. I made memories that will last a lifetime and the pain I endured was short lived compared to the happy moments I will remember forever.
The weekend was difficult by many means. I was pushed outside of my comfort zone a lot, and my stomach wasn't nice to me as I continued to puke and feel nauseous. I came back sick with a cold and a open blister on my toe, but as I sit in bed looking back at the pictures and videos from the weekend I would do it all over again. Every discomfort, every time I felt like I couldn't do it, God placed people in my life to help me through. I became closer with my teammates who bandaged my foot, stayed next to me as I dry heaved on the side of the road, and woke up at 6am just to watch me race. Because now that it's over I remember the people who encouraged me, I remember the smiles, I remember the laughs, and I remember all the good parts. And at the end of the day, the good memories outweigh every pain I experienced.
"What doesn't kill you makes you stronger," Stronger; Kelly Clarkson
We all experience pain. Everyone can relate to the sharp piercing pain of a deep cut, the stomach pains before vomiting, and the heartbreaking pain when you realize you meant nothing to someone. I clearly remember nights crying out to God asking him to heal my pain. When you sit there wondering why you must endure something so painful. But here's the thing, no one would ever choose to experience pain. If I had planned how the weekend would go, I promise you it wouldn't have included me getting sick and getting about four hours of sleep. But, if that hadn't happened I don't think I would have realized how strong my friendships are. I don't think I would trust my teammates more. I don't think I would realize I'm strong on my own. So, yeah I wouldn't have chosen to have those miserable moments over the weekend, but it gave me perspective. God knew exactly what he was doing this weekend. He knew I needed some pain in my life to show me something bigger.
Embrace your pain. Yeah, it sucks. No it's not something we choose to endure, but remember your pain comes as a part of a plan. Remember pain is always temporary, but the bigger message that often occurs from pain is long lasting.
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