happily stubborn

St John Chrysostom tells us about sticking with it today in A Year with the Church Fathers. He says that if farmers or fishermen gave up when it wasn't their day, their week, or even their year, they would fall to ruin. Not only they, but all of their Friends ;) would starve if they threw in their towel after even persistent defeat.

And God has made us fishers of men, right? He has sent us out into the harvest, because the fields are white. The thing about it all is... what we're saying is true. The gospel, the love of God, the sinfulness of men... all of it. It's true. It's not going to be less true tomorrow or next year or a thousand years from now. So we can afford to be patient. We can be "stubborn" in telling this truth, knowing that eventually our audience might come around to the truth. Even if they don't, it'll still be true, long after we're gone.

So don't grow weary in doing good, my friend. Keep on sharing the truth, sharing His love, with everyone you know. They might not be able to accept it at first. Or at second. Or at 100th. But maybe, on time 101, they'll say, "You know what? That's true."

Until then, let's keep sharing, and pray for them.

God, thanks for giving us something so true we can afford to be happily stubborn about it.