Choose Your Hard

Time is changing! That’s an interesting little phrase, and this weekend, it means we’re losing an hour. I don’t enjoy giving up an hour of sleep, but I do look forward to extra sunlight in the afternoon. Springing forward is change that yields a great benefit. What will we do with the extended sunlight? Spring is so close I can taste it!

Change is difficult! I don’t think anyone really enjoys change unless they feel confident in where that change will lead. But even more predictable change requires adjustment. Time change is a simple change comparatively, but even still, I get a bit frazzled remembering how to adjust the clock on the stove!

Change happens because life happens. Circumstances are in perpetual shift even under the strongest semblance of control. I often walk into the kitchen and see our children around the table and think, “who are these kids?” Somehow, they’ve transitioned from toddlers to teenagers in what seems like an instant. The change is evident daily! They are God’s kids but we’re doing our part to launch adults who follow Jesus. We’re embracing the changes in our children and our role as parents.

Time change reminds us of two ways to approach change. Adjustment will happen, but how we confront change is an important decision. Springing forward gives us the opportunity to do the hard upfront. We give up an hour to gain much more. During the fall, we gain an hour and give up much more. There is a profound life lesson on the nature of change.

Bethany will often tell our children to “choose your hard”. It means that when confronted with two choices, will the harder adjustment be made that has long-term benefits? The harder choice is usually the upfront adjustment. It’s easy to take the upfront benefit and let the results of change naturally happen. The better way is to choose the hard upfront. It’s what springing forward, exercise, healthy relationships, church growth, and playing the piano all have in common. We’ll either embrace the pain of discipline or live with the pain of regret.

It's been a season of doing the hard. There are times it feels like I’m swimming in change and I just want stability. I sympathize if that is the place you find yourself today. But time is changing, and times are changing. They always will until we reach eternity. Doing the hard for me right now has been more about internal rather than external change. Change naturally pulls my attention toward circumstances; I’m beginning to learn the value of looking within. The challenge that I project around me most often finds its source within. There are adjustments I need to make within or even deeper things that need to be released to the Lord.

Time changes and it requires springing forward or falling back. As we adjust our clocks, consider the two approaches to change. Which hard will we choose? It takes discipline and courage to look within and be open to change. It’s much easier to look at the circumstances without. I have yet to regret the choice of leaning in and doing the hard. There’s an upfront cost but the benefit is great!