Henry Wadsworth Longfellow – “Perseverance is a great element of success. If you only knock long enough and loud enough at the gate, you are sure to wake somebody.”
Believe.
One word. Big implications.
It is something that a Christian has to do. We must believe.
But there are varying degrees of belief.
For instance, I plan around the weather report, though it is wrong more often than not.
I believe that drugs are bad.
And that the Braves were robbed.
You know, basic human beliefs.
I also believe that Jesus Christ died on a Cross and was resurrected.
How strong is your belief?
How strong is mine?
How much would have to happen before my faith would be shaken to the core?
How much would have to happen before I gave up on my beliefs?
I do not know if you have heard the story of Eric LeGrande.
Many have heard it, though I believe the story should reach many more than it has.
He was a player on the Rutgers University football team. He made a tackle that altered his entire life. He fractured two vertebrae and was paralyzed from the neck down.
Very sad.
What is not sad about this story is the way the young man reacted. He began, as soon as he was able, his attempt at a recovery.
What is also not sad is his attitude. He called this incident God’s plan. He said that he would use this tragedy to reach people. To inspire them. He believes that his injury will allow him to do that much more profoundly than if he still played football.
He vowed, at the Espys, that he would rise out of his chair. That moment was one of the more moving I have seen in many years.
This young man has gotten through this obstacle with a mantra consisting of one word: believe.
Despite his being told he would never walk again, he continues to believe.
He persists through the long, difficult physical therapy.
Believe.
He struggles dealing with the fact that many things that he should be doing himself now require assistance.
Believe.
Now two years later, there are signs of messages from the brain reaching down as far as his legs. Though not enough to inspire movement yet, he is steadily getting stronger.
Believe.
He has been an inspiration to thousands of people, and will continue to do just that.
It makes you think, doesn’t it?
What is honestly possible with faith?
What are we capable of?
It also brings forward a question we must ask ourselves…..
How strong are your convictions?
This great young man’s convictions inspire the multitudes.
And rightly so.
And all his faith is summed up with one word.
I don’t think I need to repeat it again.
Stand up out of your “chair”. Show the world what it is capable of through Jesus Christ.
And join me in lifting up Mr. LeGrande in prayer. He’s almost there.
Vaya con Dios
TJB
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