Hula Hoops to Success by Gloria Ashby
Gloria Ashby is a wife, mother, writer, speaker, teacher, and former social worker who doesn’t mind blabbing about her messes if someone can learn from those misses and mistakes.
Speaking to groups has been in Gloria’s blood since the age of five when her grandmother gifted her with a wall-sized, teacher’s chalkboard. Since then, Gloria graduated from educator of siblings and stuffed animals to certified Lay Speaker. Grateful that God uses her experiences in life and work, Gloria’s messages have inspired people attending retreats, study groups, faith-based audiences, business leaders, and professional organizations across the country.
Gloria has published devotions and stories in Chicken Soup for the Soul, The White’s Chapel Herald church newspaper, Love is a Verb, The Secret Place, Heavenly Company and The Plight Before Christmas. She also taught Disciple Bible Studies and posts a weekly blog, Glimpses of God, at www.gloriaashby.com.
She and her husband are blessed with one gorgeous daughter, a handsome son-in-law four grand-dogs, and one most beautiful granddaughter who arrived in February. In free time, Gloria loves to read, tend her butterfly garden, or relax with friends over a meal.
Not one who waited patiently for anything, I looked for the quickest way to vary my exercise routine, strengthen the core without crunches, and achieve instant toning. The answer came from a childhood pastime — the hula hoop!
I was an adept hula hooper when 10-years old, able to keep three twirling my waist for over a hundred reps before they fell in a tangled heap. So, I sent my husband, Jim, in search of the perfect hula hoop. He brought home a sky blue one adorned with flashers. I envisioned instant success.
I cleared a space, poised the hoop at my waist and shoved it into a whirl. Clack! Two reps later, its flashers sparkled on the floor. I tried again…and again. After fifteen minutes and gasping from exertion, I maxed out at six hulas before losing the hoop to my feet. So much for instant success.
Reality set in. I wasn’t 10-years old anymore and needed three P’s —Practice, Patience, and Perseverance — to achieve my goal.
Saying “yes” to God’s calls upon my life hasn’t produced instant success either. That came only after time and the three P’s.
Why is that? God hints at the answer before the Israelites entered the Promised Land.
“I will send terror ahead of you to drive out the Hivites, Canaanites, and Hittites. But I will not drive them out in a single year, because the land would become desolate and the wild animals would multiply and threaten you. I will drive them out a little at a time until your population has increased enough to take possession of the land.” (Exodus 23:28-30, NLT)
God saw the future. He saw the obstacles and difficulties that instant conquest would bring the Israelites. He knew they lacked the necessary strength — in numbers, skills, and smarts — to thrive in the new land. The Lord planned for success and would equip His people for it. Their part? Practice following the Lord, patiently wait upon His deliverance, and persevere in trusting His wisdom and plan.
That same truth applies today, though difficult to follow in my hurried, fast-paced world. If I approach God’s calls with an attitude of Practice, Patience, and Perseverance, then I will gain the strength, skill, and knowledge to thrive through any challenge. God not making something happen immediately doesn’t mean He isn’t working on it.
Case in point — three days later, and I’m already up to 30 hula revolutions.
Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord. (Psalm 27:14, NLT)