When Winning Counts the Most

This has been an emotional week for my six-year-old, and when it's an emotional week for your child, it's an emotional week for Mom too.

This week Caleb started swimming lessons. It hasn't been easy.

Caleb is not a daredevil. I've never had to worry about him jumping out of trees and breaking legs, or riding his bike full speed down a hill and breaking an arm. When the other kids are diving into the pool at breakneck speeds, my son is perfectly happy to run around to the three-foot side and calmly walk down the steps. Yeah. Cautious could have been his middle name. Makes his mom happy - makes his dad scratch his head and think that his son has been spending too much time with Mom.

Anyway, so this is Caleb's first time to do swimming lessons and Monday was rough. He was one of five boys and girls in his group and it was obvious after the first round with the instructor that he was the one with the least experience. Refusing to get in the water while the other kids jumped in and out might have been the first indication. Eventually he relented, but after a couple of times in and back out, I saw the tears welling up and Meltdown was in full motion. I waved for him to come over so I could calm him down. I mustered everything within me to give him a good pep talk, willing my "mommy" tendencies away and bringing in my tough side I like to call WWMHS - (What Would My Husband Say).

"Caleb, you can't let the pool win. You need to win."

"But Mom, you always tell me that winning isn't what's important."

Darn it, I hate it when they actually listen.

"Yes, but Caleb, this time is different. You be the winner, not the pool. You have to beat the pool. You can't let the pool win. If you let the pool win, you'll never learn to swim. You'll never have the fun you can have when you know how to swim. You have to win this time."

That's what I told him, or something to that effect. It was tough love at its hardest, and I told him he had to get back in before we left. Finally, he calmed down and went back in and let the instructor help him swim across and back. He got out with a huge smile on his face. The sign of victory.

"Thanks Mom for making me get back in and helping me beat the pool. Thanks for helping me win."

There are times when winning does count, and it counts hard. For me, this deployment is one of those times. Lately, it has been an ongoing struggle to win. To not allow those deep despairing emotions get the better of me. To keep my head above water. To not just tread, but swim full force, putting water and distance behind me.

I think Satan would like nothing better than to use these times of deployment to defeat the families affected by them, and so it is vital that we win. It is vital that we pray for each other and pray for military families in general that marriages and family units will be protected and stay strong until they are together once again.

A dear friend of mine, a retired military wife, called today and reminded me how important it is that we as a country pray for Victory - not just protection. For Victory - not just an end to the war. I would also add that we need to pray for victory for our families and our marriages. We need to pray to win! God has every desire to give us that - but we must ask for it. Not just hope for it. We must expect it - not just wish it. We must pray to win. In life, in our relationships, in our spiritual walks.

This lesson about winning apparently has stuck with my son. He continues to do better and be braver each day he is at the pool. And he is encouraging me as well. When I undercooked the macaroni last night, I kept apologizing to Caleb about the pasta shells being a little tougher than normal.

He held his palm out, as if to tell me not to speak another word.

"Mom, it's ok," he said, with a wise expression on his serious face. "It's ok."

"Don't let the macaroni win, Mom. You win."

Out of the mouths of babes... and win I shall!

Meanwhile, live in such a way that you are a credit to the Message of Christ. Let nothing in your conduct hang on whether I come or not. Your conduct must be the same whether I show up to see things for myself or hear of it from a distance. Stand united, singular in vision, contending for people's trust in the Message, the good news, not flinching or dodging in the slightest before the opposition. Your courage and unity will show them what they're up against: defeat for them, victory for you—and both because of God. There's far more to this life than trusting in Christ. There's also suffering for him. And the suffering is as much a gift as the trusting. - Philippians 1:27, The Message