Beyond annoying me, can this burden really transform me? This is the daily service podcast with Anthony Ongin. So many people grew up with challenges, as I did, says Sonia Sotomayor. There were always happy things happening to me and around me.
But when you look at the core of goodness within yourself, at the optimism and hope, you realize it comes from the environment you grew up in. End quote. Marisa grew up in a single mom home. Marisa's my wife.
She was thankful she had a mom who did all she could to provide for her and, yes, to protect her, too, as she was in show business. But a big part of her longed for what she lacked. A dad, a whole family, a complete home. It was only when we got married that she began to see that the strengths she developed because of the environment she grew up in became a blessing.
This home. Today, she fights for her children. Well, occasionally she fights me, okay? But the better blessing is she fights for her children.
She partners with me in finding solutions to our own challenges like her mom did, you know, whatever it takes spirit. Not to mention her role as Mrs. Fixit in her home. Den we her mom, and in our home now, right?
For the things that need repair and maintenance. And all of this had to do with her growing up in a single mom home. The burden into a blessing. The burden she had about her family then trained her, prepared her to be more of a blessing to her family.
Now, yesterday we said, you can turn a burden into a blessing as you see all that knocks at your door as a gift today, you can turn your burdens into a blessing. When we allow the burden to transform us. When we allow the burden to strengthen us. So this illustration, which you may have heard of before.
So God told me to push this rock. And so I pushed for a day, several days, weeks. And the message was to push it. So I pushed for months, over a year at one point.
Is it God? I've pushed for a year, but it hasn't moved. And then God replied, I told you to push the rock. I did not tell you to move it.
But now look, it may have not moved, but you're stronger, right? Your muscles have grown, most certainly. And you are no quitter. The agenda had nothing to do with the rock.
It was about you. Wow. Indeed. Change starts with us first.
Not a few people. Maybe, you know, some of these sometimes, perhaps you fall into this kind of mentality. Look at this mentality, okay? It's this mentality that goes, what luck do I have?
I mean, I had a first boss who really sucked, right? And pressured Me more than guided me. The second boss was actually worse. It wasn't just the boss, it was also the superior, perhaps, that she assigned to me.
Output, output, output. That's all they cared about. And now my present boss. I see all the same signs.
Results over relationships all over again. What luck do I have? Well, to this person, I'd say, okay, so you've had three lousy bosses so far. But what?
Or maybe who better? Who is the common denominator of all three? Leo Tolstoy. Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.
But can I, Anthony, truly change? Can God change someone like me? What did he reply? In the presence of Mark, his disciple, and I quote, if I can change things, everything is possible for one who believes.
End quote. End verse Let me tell you something about my son. Bent him in surgery when he was 4 years old. That experience changed his siblings and his parents more than.
It changed him more than Benjamin. That bird then transformed us, our faith, our family bond. It strengthened us and countless others. Now, through the years, Marisel has written many books.
But it was only that book that won the Catholic Mass Media Award for Book of the Year. Super Bench this quote. Not all storms come to disrupt your life. Some come to clear your path.
And allow me to quote Mahatma Gandhi to enforce this man often becomes what he believes himself to be. If I keep on saying to myself that I cannot do a certain thing, it is possible that I may end by really becoming incapable of doing it. On the contrary, if I have the belief that I can do it, I shall surely acquire the capacity to do it, even if I may not have it at the beginning. End quote Mahatma Gandhi.
How can this transform you and strengthen you? Let me give you five quick tips. Let it calm you. Breathe, breathe, breathe.
Calm amidst the storm. Number two. Let it heal you of hurts long set aside. Number three.
Let it inspire you. Overcome this and watch greater conquests in life. Number four. Let it level you up in skill and competency.
Take it from me, this continuing global health crisis has stretched my ability to negotiate business deals. And not just that, to mediate relational conflicts like nothing else has. And finally, number five. Let it lead you to your waymaker, to your miracle worker.
You know the song, your promise keeper. Or in this case, your burden bearer. The Lord himself. Let it calm, heal, inspire, level up and lead you to the Lord.
C H I L L Now chill. Let this burden transform you and strengthen you, my friend. As Paul encouraged the Corinthians, what did he say? For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.
So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but what is unseen. Since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. Amidst the burden before you, I dare say, carry on.