sweat

This morning I realized as I was out for my run, that I didn't really emphasize gratitude the way I had intended to in what I wrote yesterday. With this in mind I predetermined that today would have a very strong gratitude emphasis and I knew what it would be.

Today, I am thankful for sweat.

Yup.

Sweat.

Now I determined this morning that this would be my item of thanksgiving and now as I sit here actually putting the words together I have to chuckle.

I HAVE SWEAT SOOOOO MUCH TODAY!

The reason I determined that today I was grateful for sweat, of course, came to me when I returned home from running.

I even took this lovely selfie complete with some quinoa in my teeth that I SHOVED in my mouth the moment I got back from running #famished

Now I do not tend to like taking sweaty post work out selfies, but I took that because I found myself rather amazed. Today is November 6th, I went running around 9am. I put on a lightweight sweatshirt and found myself VERY warm in the incredibly warm weather and beautiful sunshine. 

You should know something about me. 

I HATE TO RUN IN THE COLD.

I actually started running in July. I would rather run in 100 degree heat and humidity than in the cold. It knocks me off track every single year. In the cold I tend to want to curl up with a good book or cheesy movie under a thousand blankets with a bowl of popcorn and cup of hot cocoa. 

So today as I basked in the sunshine and sweat my booty off...literally we can only hope...I was so grateful. By now, here in Michigan, the weather is usually headed the direction of cold. While I enjoy winter I have been dreading it ever so much this year because of the commitment I have made to running. Now you may say, "Linda, they have these things called treadmills." I suppose if push comes to shove I would do that, but for me, half the beauty of running is being present with the Lord in His creation.

I was so grateful for all that sweat this morning because I was overwhelmed by the mercy He is showing me to ease me into this cold weather. He has granted me time to build up my endurance and resolve so that when the snow begins to fly I will not give up like I usually do.

So, as of this morning, those were my very chipper thoughts on sweat. Since then, I have sweat ever so much.

Now you might be thinking, "Get it girl! You are killing this workout." 

That however, would be incorrect. This evening the sweat inducing activity was work. 

I will just come out and say it. As I sit here writing, I am THOROUGHLY exhausted. I am weary to my very bones. It has been such a long week.

Tonight, I was at the shelter covering a shift for my friend who lost her son.

Guys, I don't know what was going on with the heat situation but it was as hot as fire in this building tonight. 

I. Was. Melting.

There were moments where I threatened to shave all the hair off my head because I was so hot. Not only was I hot. I was on the move the majority of the night. It was one of those nights where I felt like the moment I sat down I had to pop right back up to go somewhere else for SOMETHING. This lasted the entire night.

By the time I left my hair felt gross from the sweat, my feet were tired, my legs were aching and I was D.O.N.E. with life for the day.

But you know what?

As I sat down to write this and chuckled to myself that this morning I had decided to write about my gratitude for sweat, little knowing just how much sweating I would do, I realized I was still grateful.

I am grateful that the Lord has given me a job to go to. Somedays, it sucks every ounce of energy I have. Other days, it saps every ounce of patience I have. It tests me. It stretches me. But it grows me in ways I cannot begin to explain. I am blessed to work at a job that isn't easy and the earthly benefits may seem small. The heavenly benefits however, are out of this world. 

I am also blessed that I was able to help out my sister in her time of need. More than any flowers I can send or words I can say, taking any pressure I can off a friend in this difficult time is the best thing I can offer her. I am so tired, but I am so glad that I could be exactly where I was needed tonight.

Last I am thankful for all this sweat because, even though I am weary, the Lord sustained me to do what I needed to do. I had feet that carried me through the halls. I had arms that held a broom and cuddle little ones. I had a voice to sing and lead worship and share the gospel of Christ Jesus. I had a heart to have compassion on the least of these. He is a great provider and even when we have nothing left to give He takes our empty vessels and makes them full again.

God is so good.

So today, I was grateful for sweat, in more ways then I ever anticipated.

This is such a lovely reminded to me to keep my eyes open for God hand in the simplest of things.

Even sweat.