One Step at a Time ~ Psalty
The LORD directs our steps, so
why try to understand everything along the way? ~ Proverbs 20:24 NLT
A little girl overheard her mother say, “Doing that is
like trying to eat an elephant!” Later that day, while playing at the park, the
little girl asked a man, “How do you eat an elephant?” The man didn’t want to
deal with it, so he walked away. The girl asked a few more people, but none
would answer her. Finally, she asked an older couple sitting on a bench. The
couple looked at each with a knowing smile. Then the husband said to the little
girl, “We’ve always found it’s best to eat an elephant one bite at a time.”
Surrounded by faculty and staff at Tuesday’s in-service,
I felt a bit overwhelmed for all the changes and needs this coming year brings.
Even though the administration has done an excellent job of preparing and coaching
everyone through the plans for this year, the task still seems a bit daunting.
At the same time, I have several friends who are looking to make huge changes in
their lives.
In each of our lives, we will face mountains that seem as
impossible to climb as eating an elephant whole. We may try to ignore the mountain
or find a way around it. We might even back way up to get a good running start.
But try as we might, we’ll never be able to make it in a single leap. Unfortunately,
the only way to conquer the mountain is to take it one step at a time. Your
progress may feel slow at first. You may even slip or slide back a few times. But
keep going and you’ll get there.
Regardless of the particulars of your mountain, it’s
still just an elephant you’re trying to eat. And, as the little girl learned,
the best way to eat an elephant is one bite at a time.
©Heather Potts 2020
