Rise Up

 

Get Up

When I was younger, I was kind of weenie. I’m such a poet, I know, but truly I was not a strong willed kid. My dad would ask me to help and I always got hurt. I often remember helping unload wood for our wood burning stove. I think I always got something in my eye. I’d cry, my dad would probably roll his eyes and wonder what went wrong with this kid. 

Then high school came and football was introduced into my life. My dad told me (years later) he didn’t think I would last because I was such a wimp. But after my freshman year, something changed in me. I started taking hits and getting back up.

I remember Dad saying he thought I’d just crumple and give up, but he told me he was always surprised when I kept getting up hit after hit. I remember him saying that there would be times when I’d get hit hard, get up slow and then next play be off to the races or running over someone. 

I remember being a wimpy kid and I remember pushing through pain to get back up. I remember being determined not to give up and remember being scared to fail. 

Next chapter of my life after high school I remember being fearful of presenting at work, and speaking in front of people. I remember not asking questions because my anxiety to look like I don’t know something. I remember holding back because I wasn’t sure. 

Overtime, I took risks and started gaining experience which led to confidence or at least lack of fear. 

The key to it was rising again. It took me too long in life to realize I’m going to always rise again. I was blessed with the “get back up” attitude, I just didn’t take the risks to let myself fall as much as I should have. I should have known that I will get through whatever it is, even if I fail, fall or just look dumb. 

I’m not afraid of those things anymore. I’m more about growth and learning and if it's by failure, it will probably be a better lesson. My faith has helped me find faith in myself. I know that I will get through most things because I feel God has a purpose for me. He has that for all of us, but some of us want to think we are still weenies. 

Well maybe it's time to ask yourself, am I afraid I won’t get up? Am I down and think I can’t get up? You can…when your heart is in the right place. We all can get up.