“I’ve fought a good fight .... 2 Timothy 4:7.
Beginnings are wonderful. So are endings. It’s in the middle that we need help. It’s in the middle of the race that we need our second wind. It’s in the middle of the battle that we need reinforcements.
On their way home from a lifetime of missionary service in Africa, an elderly couple found themselves on the same ocean liner as President Roosevelt, who was returning from a big game expedition. They watched in awe at the fanfare surrounding him and his entourage. When the ship docked in New York a band was waiting to greet him, the Mayor was there to welcome him, and the newspapers heralded his
return.
Meanwhile, the missionary couple slipped quietly off the ship. They had little pension, they were in poor health, and fearful. The husband couldn’t seem to get over how President Roosevelt had received such acclaim while their decades of service seemed to go unnoticed. “God isn’t treating us fairly,” he complained to his wife. “Why don’t you pray about it?” she said. A short time later she noticed a big change in his attitude. “What happened?” she asked. He replied, “While in prayer, the Lord put His hand on my shoulder and said to me, ‘Son, you’re not home yet!’"
