Pebble In My Shoe

I like to run, if you want to call it that. It is more like a slow jog. At least three or four mornings a week I rise before the sun and hit the pavement. It makes me feel good. I know, weird.

Yesterday morning I had an enlightening moment around mile four of my "run".

I was going along at a good pace, and just as I started my final mile, and just as the, "I'm almost finished, I'm going to feel so good all day long because I did this" thoughts entered my mind, something small and sharp hit the arch of my right foot. It didn't hurt enough to stop, but it hurt enough to bother me...alot. In fact, for the next ten minutes it was all that I could think about.

I spent too much time deciding what I was going to do in my mind. My initial thought was to just leave it, and continue my run home. But, it was really, really bothersome. I couldn't think of anything but whatever that thing was. I thought, "I could stop, but then i'll just want to walk the rest of the way home." I argued with myself as I slowly made my way up the street.

Finally, when I just couldn't stand it anymore, when all I could focus on was that little thing against my foot, I stopped and threw my shoe off.

Inside was a small, round pebble. It wasn't even sharp, and it was no bigger than my smallest fingernail. I was mad that it was so small, but so aggitating. Once it was gone, I was able to recommit and successfully finish my run home. I didn't think about it again.

This morning I was thinking about how that pebble is alot like my life. I get going at a good pace. I'm feeling good. Nothing can stop me. These are usually the times that Heavenly Father loves to give me a "pebble". Sometimes it is a trial big or small. Sometimes I start to feel inadequate, or I might hold on to something that I should let go of. Sometimes I get into a rut. I don't move forward or even backward...I just stay the same. Sometimes I am too negative. We all have our own pebbles.

Our pebbles are different depending on who we are, but it is our job to quickly stop and get rid of them so that we can focus and finish our own races home.

Last month I had a whole lot of them to throw out. This month...not so many. I am hopeful that I can keep it that way, at least for a while!