When you feel like giving up, DON’T!
One thing about harvesting pineapples after you’ve planted them is that they take a while to produce results.
Take the two in the picture on the left. They are about the juiciest, sweetest pineapples you’ve ever tasted; but those puppies took about 3 years to get that way.
My wife and I have 28 other pineapple plants in front of the house and they all take about the same amount of time to produce. I’ve heard (but haven’t confirmed) that if you put an apple core in the middle of your plant, the acidity of the apple will act as a catalyst to help the plant produce quicker. But for the most part, pineapple growing is a ridiculously long slow process.
There’s a delicious BBQ place near where I live called Slow and Low. The name says it all. Their amazing food takes a while to get that way.
The same with life, anything worthwhile is often long in coming and requires discipline, patience.
For most people ‘slow’ is one of those 4 letter words. We are a here and now people. We like fast cars, fast food, fast money, fast diets, fast downloads, fast red traffic lights, and the fast and the furious. Anything we have to wait for we hate.
But, to turn negatives into big positives you must look at time as your ally. King David wrote,
“My times are in your hands.” (Psalm 31:15 NIV)
Through time our faith deepens and we develop us and grow stronger. And through experiences we learn and, hopefully, become wiser and better able to handle life (if that’s possible). See time as your friend.
I am an alumni and a big fan of the University of Central Florida Athletics. Our basketball center is Tacko Fall. He is a 7′ 6″ tall 290 pounds junior with an 8′ wingspan. Tacko was testing the waters about going into the NFL Draft this year but decided to wait. Wise choice! With another year of college basketball under his belt, Tacko will develop his game more and have the potential of being a first round pick next year and a dominant factor in the NBA. Time is good!
Also, to turn negatives into big positives learn to recognize the possibilities in difficulties.
The following 2 paragraphs are a quote from my soon to be released book Hecklers In Your Crowd: Silencing The Voices that Hold You back:
In my early days as the pastor-teacher of an Anglo church I became very conscious of my Spanish accent when I listened to a sermon I had preached. I was not aware of such a thing until I heard myself. I was devastated. I felt like a failure. I had worked so hard to command the English language, but the accent stuck to me like glue. Then someone told me that I looked like Fez in That ‘70s Show and sounded like Ricky Ricardo in I Love Lucy. I really had issues with sounding like English is my second language (even though it is).
But then the Holy Spirit used my darling wife and a few close friends to help me see how the accent could be a strength in ministry rather than a weakness. I began to realize that many listeners like someone that sounds different than the rest. Beyond that, when I speak some people have to really pay attention; otherwise, they will whisper to their neighbor, “What did he just say?” I was able to turn what I thought was a negative into a positive.
One more thing, try to see negative threatening circumstances as fuel to your fire in your pursuit of goals and dreams.
A passionate businessman and developer I know thrives on opposition and obstacles. They motivate him even more to succeed.
It’s easy for us to get mentally defeated the moment our plans fail or don’t happen as we had expected. At that time we can either chose to retreat or dig deep and advance. What are you going to do?
I close by going back to the idea of pineapple growing. Those plants take care of themselves. Plant them in moist soil, water them, and let them be. They’ll just need plenty of sun and a few showers here and there. Then, in time, sweet fruit will be produced.
Maybe it’s raining where you are…I don’t mean outside (the wet stuff) but in your life with problems and struggles and difficult moments. Those storms can turn out to be beneficial. Ask God for perspective. Think of what good can eventually come out of it. Trust God (He does have a perfect plan). And stay resolved to turn it all around. Then, in time, you will have produced great fruit. And, don’t forget, when you feel like giving up, DON’T!
Please leave me a comment. Thanks for reading!
Thanks Jorge, awesome message!
Thanks, Doug!
Thank you, Jorge! Your blog this week reminds me of a time in my life when I was at an all-time low. I was trying (finally) to finish my senior year of high school in Arlington, Texas. Because of severe migraine headaches I was dealing with, I was graduating a year later than I should have. Also, I started that senior year in a brand new school and in a different state. Normally, by your senior year, you have developed friendships and relationships with several different people. I knew no one in that school. I remember how I would walk from class to class with my head down, not looking up until I reached the classroom. It was a really depressing time in my life.
Then one day it all changed. I consider it a spiritual marker in my life, when one morning I woke up and told myself that I was going to school and hold my head up and pay attention to those around me. The second half of the year was like a night and day difference. I established a great friendship with one of the guys in my class, and my outlook on life completely changed.
Looking back on it now, I know God was gently leading me down a better path, and He was the One who put the thought in my head to “look up”!
Even though I’ve gone through many trials since then, I’ve lived my life with the confidence that God is always in control, nothing takes Him by surprise, and whatever plans He has for my life, He will reveal them to me in His time.
My job is to be faithful, obedient, trusting, and thankful!
Great story, Jim. May the Lord always help us raise our heads up to see what he has in store for us.