I recently met one of the toughest people I’ve encountered. Her name is Violet. I know, not a name that inspires fear
and trembling. And she’s not the biggest person in the world—about a foot and a half tall, weighs about 12lbs or so (That’s an estimate; I know never to ask a lady’s weight!). But she’s tougher than a lot of people I’ve known who were over six feet tall and 200lbs with skull & crossbones tattoos.
Her tattoos are a little different—they’re the result of multiple surgeries, including a heart transplant. I saw a t-shirt one time that said, “Scars are tattoos with better stories.” Well, her “tattoos” tell a much more interesting story than a picture of a winged unicorn or a ring of barbed wire around the bicep. They tell a story of toughness and God’s provision; more provision than I could list in a short article, it includes a place for the family to stay, expert physicians, connections to Christian brothers and sisters locally, and so much more; provision that has allowed her to be the first baby to endure certain procedures.
The thing that has struck me as I’ve visited her these last few weeks is the resiliency of babies. When you’re six months old you go with the flow—you don’t really have a choice. You might voice your displeasure, but in the end you roll with whatever happens because you don’t have the option not to. When we get to the point that we have more control over our response to the potholes we encounter in life we tend to give up when we’re capable of much more.
I read recently that Navy SEALs have what they call the 40% Rule:
“When your mind is telling you you’re done, you’re really only 40% done.” And while the percentage is an estimate, the concept has been scientifically proven. We get to our “quit” point mentally far short of where we’re actually capable of going. And for a Christian, there’s really no excuse for stopping short of our capabilities, because we have the promise of strength from Christ—who didn’t even let crucifixion and death stop Him. Philippians 4:13 says “I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” If He survived death, and then promised His strength to us, how is it that we let anything stop us?
Little Violet has been through more drastic challenges in her six to seven months of life than I’ve had to endure in my … um …
several more years. And the next time I think I’m spent, I’m going to be reminded of the toughness of this little one with the special tattoo—one that tells of her resilience and the love and provision of a great God. And then I’m going to go 60% further….
