Carry Your Elephant Today
"I need my Milo today!" so goes the slogan of the popular chocolate-malt drink that is sold worldwide. Did you know that it was inspired by a legendary Greek figure?
Milo of Croton was known as the greatest Greek wrestler in ancient times because of his superhuman strength. "But to become the greatest wrestler in Greece and win six Olympic laurels, Milo had to train.
His method? Borrow a new born calf, and carry it around Croton--day after day, week after week, and month after month. As the calf grew, so did Milo's strength; until he could carry the now full-grown bull upon his back."*
According to the story, the secret of Milo's extraordinary strength was that he was willing to carry around a baby cow until it got bigger and bigger! As the animal grew, Milo grew stronger and stronger!**
1. Carrying a "growing cow or elephant" is good for both kids and adults.
While I was in Japan, I opened my Viber family group chat to find a message and a video for me. The text read, Mom! Philip wrote on your chair!!!
Apparently, 2 year old Philip held a crayon, and scrawled all over my sofa bench with his chubby fingers! My heart broke, watching the video of a super-sorry Philip, with his big, round, sad eyes, saying "I'm sorry" to me on camera. I knew that Philip was uncomfortable with admitting and apologizing, but I'm so proud of his mom, Carla, for letting Philip carry "his baby cow".
It's not easy for a 2 year old to bear the weight of his mistake and apologize, but because Philip is learning how to do it, he is building good responsibility muscles that will make him a stronger man in the future.
The Bible says it this way:
It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth.Lamentations 3:27
Sometimes parents are afraid of disciplining their kids, thinking that it will harm them. Actually, it is the lack of clear discipline or personal accountability that ruin children's character. Godly boundaries of right and wrong, and learning to respect other people and their property are good weights for everyone to learn from a young age.
Hebrews 12:11 promises a reward for weight-lifters:
No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening it's painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.
Joey and I once saw a mom rant and rave, because the security guard at the mall would not allow her young son to use his scooter inside. As she was making a scene by berating the guard, the boy was watching his mother's example as she dishonored authority. How unfortunate, that instead of teaching him the value of respect, personal sacrifice, and discipline, her sons desire was deemed as more important.
2. Godly diligence has a reward, so carry godly weight daily.
Successful people become successful because they don't give up, even when the pressure gets heavier. It's not easy to stay moral, when society is immoral. It's challenging to keep your integrity, when so many others are getting away by compromising themselves. But if you embrace discipline and learn to carry these weights, you will win in the end.
Be willing to carry the weight of the Word of God. Let God's words have a heavier value on your behavior, every time you make a decision.
Here are two ways how:
a) Decide to read God's word daily and let your children see the value of it. Start with a chapter of proverbs a day, or increase your reading by 5 more minutes. You'll be surprised by the wisdom you are storing up in your heart.
b) Practice obeying the Lord in every situation. Do it, oneday at a time. Just like Milo, your diligence will reward you.
An area I need to steward better in my personal life is wiser time management. That's a discipline and a weight I need to carry more diligently. How about you?
Do you have any baby cows or elephants, that you need to practice carrying today?
Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.Colossians 3: 23-24
*Source: http://miloandthecalf.com/milo-of-croton/
**Now, if you are wondering why I have an elephant on the cover of this blog, its simply because I didn't have a cow picture! : >
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