When she said that, it struck a chord in me! I am determined to get Angela Bassett arms and to get rid of this leftover maternity blubber that insulates my midsection. And I’ve been working hard, so when the summer gets here, I’m going to be like my son with his muscle shirts, I’m going to expose my arms every chance I get (I cannot say the same for my belly, that is going to take extensive work). During the winter, no one sees the transformation of your body, it’s not until the summer when you blow them away with your toned curves that they see the new you.
Do your work when nobody’s checking you out and when the season comes for exposure, you’ll shine brighter than any other. This is a P31 chick interpretation of v29 and 31: “There are many virtuous and capable women in the world, but you surpass them all! Reward her for all she has done. Let her deeds publicly declare her praise”. The grind you put in during the periods of life that seem undesirable and unnoticed, that you wish were over, will give way to a glorious unveiling of all your hard work.
I think about raising children. It seems that the terrible 2s and the teenage years are some of the more difficult times of parenting, but if you put in the work that’s necessary to yield productive, God-fearing children, your work will pay off. You may not see it until they’re 45, but your efforts will show, eventually (I’m kidding but also trying to be realistic). I also think about marriage (a marriage with a man and a woman committed to each other and God). There are times in a good marriage when it feels like winter, but if you continue to put in the effort and passion necessary to sustain and grow a marriage, spring will come.
It’s a fact that seasons change. The same is true in our lives. We move from one set of situations and circumstances to different situations and circumstances. Moving on to a better situation than the one you currently are in requires that some work be done. Your situation will change, whether you like it or not, but you determine if it changes for the better or for worse. Back to our fitness example. If I choose to be less active during the winter because it’s cold and I enjoy all the holiday foods and hearty warm meals that come along with winter, how do you think this will affect my waistline come spring and summer? It will add a few inches to all the areas where inches are least desired. And starting to work out in the spring or summer is good for your health but too late for your hot summer bod. By time you get toned up, you’ll have to cover it all up. So expecting a better situation when no work has been done to get a better situation is crazy.
You have to stay on GO, even when you don’t feel like it’s beneficial to put forth the effort. You can coast a little when you get to the new, better season, but don’t get too comfortable, life is always evolving, bringing different opportunities that will change your life situation and you’ll have to put in the work to prepare for the change.
References: Proverbs 31:29,31
