Thought for the Day 6/25/2007

A Scottish athlete in the 19th century made an iron discus based on a description he read in a book. What he didn’t know was that the discus used in official competition was made of wood with only an outer rim of iron. His was solid metal and weighed three or four times as much as those being used by other discus throwers.
The man marked out the record distance in a field near his home and trained day and night to match the record. For years he labored until he could break the record. Then he took his iron discus to England for his first competition.
When he arrived at the games, he was handed the official discus. He easily set a new record, a distance far beyond those of his competitors. He remained the uncontested champion for many years. This man trained under a heavy burden and became better for it.
When we are given a heavy burden to bear, we need to learn to bear it with the help of our Higher Power and for His sake. Our burdens can make us better than we ever imagined – stronger, more patient, more courageous, more gentle, and more loving than we could otherwise be.
- Dave Roper

Be strong and of good courage, do not fear or be in dread of them:
for it is the Lord your God who goes with you.
- Deuteronomy 31:6