Don't Stay Down, Get Up!

On Saturday afternoon I listened in disbelief as Dan Goodale's potential game winning Boise State field goal sailed right. History was repeating itself. It was about the same time last year when Kyle Brotzman's potential game winning field goal against Nevada also sailed right. Both kicks costing Boise State a BCS bowl game. For many people, their world came crashing down. Although I'm a huge Boise State fan, it's not like someone missing a kick is the end of the world. Unfortunately, for many people, when things happen in life, it's all too easy to give up. People forget that failure is part of life. Tragically, people's view of  failure is wrong and it becomes the fuel that keeps people down, paralyzed and unwilling to get up and try again. Proverbs 24:16 tells us, "The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again. But one disaster is enough to overthrow the wicked." It's not a matter of whether or not someone will trip up, but more about what they choose to do after they trip up. Just because Goodale and Brotzman missed kicks, does that mean they should stop kicking? If you fail at something, does it mean you should stop and give up? No! Life is about growing, learning and getting back up. Don't give up, walk away, or stay down. Ask God for strength and courage so you can get back up. What if I'd stayed down and given up all the times I've tripped up? To me it's not an option. Life isn't about the trips and failures, but it's about getting back up. It's about getting up when you don't think you can or don't want to. Today, don't stay down, but get up!