A Young Girl’s Struggle and Triumph

Philippians 3:14

I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Today I heard a story of a young girl’s perseverance after her prize. She is a girl from our church and this past week she was at a youth camp on Lake Winnipesaukee. On this lake there is a raft that is far out and if I understood correctly it is out over 100yards in the water. So the kids need to pass a swimming test to prove they can swim that distance safely before they can go there.

This young lady decided that she would do it. So she lined up with the other kids to take the test. The whistle blew and off they went. The other kids quickly left her behind and she was barely a quarter off the way through as the other kids passed the halfway mark. But she kept on swimming with a smile on her face and as she reached the halfway point the other kids were starting to finish.

Smiling she kept on all by herself, alone in the water, no one beside her to encourage her, watched only by the lifeguard and her pastor.

Yet never giving up and never loosing her smile she kept swimming even as the adults thought for sure she wouldn’t make it. After all she must be getting tired by now. After all the other kids have been done and gone for minuets now.

Still all alone and smiling she pressed on toward the goal, the prize of a bracelet and the chance to swim out and play on the far raft. And she made it! She finished the test and got her bracelet. She didn’t try to prove that she was the fastest or best swimmer but she did end up proving that she was a strong and persevering person and that she could achieve that which she wanted. That she could do it with a smile and with grace.

Keep your eye on the prize! Persevere, and you will achieve your goals.