Finishing Strong is EPIC

Robin Sharma said, “Starting strong is good. Finishing strong is epic.

Wow! How true is that. It is easy to start the race, to start the school year strong and do well and be super pumped about being back with friends and learning new stuff. But, the challenge comes when we get close to the finish line, close to the end of the school year as we are now. Students are tired, teachers are weary, text books are worn, but we have to finish and we should desire to finish strong.

In the apostle Paul’s second letter to Timothy he said, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race.” Paul was beaten, bruised, and at one time left for dead, but he persevered, he never gave up and he finished his time on earth strong. We need to look at Paul as the example for how we live our lives. When he began his ministry, he was on fire for the Lord, preaching, teaching, traveling in order to make disciples for Jesus Christ. He started strong and he finished strong. He was not going to allow his yesterdays to dictate his tomorrows.

As we get closer and closer to the end of this school year, we must encourage our students, your children, to not allow the “short-timers” mentality to set in. There is still work to be done, quizzes to be taken and finals to ace. The end is in sight and they know it, we know it, but perseverance must be the drive we are in.

Parents also must remain diligent in staying on top of the work that your children are still required to do. As a past parent, my children have graduated, it is easy to become complacent as the end of the school year gets closer. We, too, can start to shut down and focus on the summer activities, but we have to finish the school year just as strong as we would expect from our children.

Teachers, we need to remain focused on the task that God called us to in August of last year. We, too, know the end is near, summer is right around the corner, vacations are waiting, but we still have much for our students to accomplish. They are the reason we are here, and if we shut down early, they are the ones who will suffer. As you encourage and push you students to finish strong, may you also be encouraged to finish just as strong. Paul, writing to the Galatian church said, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

As I write this blog we are around 26 days to go. Compared to where we were in September of 2022, this is the final sprint to the finish line. Hands are tired, legs are wobbly, eyes are blurry, but we can do this. I see you out there still running strong, not giving up, teaching and discipling to the very end, keep up the pace. Reaching the last day of school will be EPIC if we know in our hearts that we have finished as we started, STRONG.
​
God Bless, and enjoy the sprint.