WF Pride

Discipline and Accountability

Chad Cottingham

When it comes to exercise, my wife Kristen will be the first to tell you that she hates it. She either gets hurts or injured, and as a result, has strong feelings against participation in it. I guess you could say she’s still looking for the right kind of exercise for her. She’s tried Aerobics, Tae-Bo, Insanity, Zumba, and even Cross Fit – but to no avail. Our youngest daughter, Madi, just recently encouraged her mother by saying that she does in fact work out. According to Madi, shopping is exercise because it involves a lot of walking and sometime running if there is a sale. Another lady on Facebook added the fact that shopping may also consist of wrestling – especially on Black Friday.

As much as Kristen dislikes exercising, she and my oldest daughter, Carley, decided to join a ladies running group a few years ago and attempt a 5K. The group, called LAUGH, met weekly and encouraged all women, regardless of skill or ability. Kristen and Carley ran together, trained together, encouraged each other, and eventually met their goal of running a 5K. Kristen could not have done it alone, neither could many of the other women. But together they did it. The encouragement and accountability of a partner and larger group helped my wife and daughter overcome all obstacles and successfully finish a race.

I was very proud of my wife and daughter for what they had accomplished. As I thought about what they had done, it made me think of the passage in the bible – As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend. Proverbs 27:17 ~ NLT. We were not meant to do life alone. Whether it’s run a 5K, raising children, reading a bible plan, etc… it is much easier with someone. Someone to hold us accountable, someone to support us, encourage us, laugh with us, cry with us and celebrate with us. Who is that person in your life? Is it your spouse? Is it someone at work? Is it your exercise partner?

Dear Lord, we know we are not meant to live life on our own. We need You! We need Your guidance, strength, grace and mercy every day. We also need others to help us grow into better people, others to challenge us and hold us accountable. Help us to find that person if we haven’t already, or to thank that person if we do. It’s in Jesus name we pray, Amen.