It’s Friday! And it’s the Friday leading to a long weekend! Woohoo! This is the reward for people who’ve worked hard all week. And for all the hard workers of life who’ve ever felt the weight of troubles so heavy they’ve wanted to drop everything and give up, here’s something forwarded from a coworker for you:

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One day I decided to quit…
I quit my job, my relationship, my spirituality… I wanted to quit my life. I went to the woods to have one last talk with God. “God”, I asked, “Can you give me one good reason not to quit?” His answer surprised me…
“Look around”, He said. “Do you see the fern and the bamboo?”
“Yes”, I replied.
“When I planted the fern and the bamboo seeds, I took very good care of them. I gave them light. I gave them water. The fern quickly grew from the earth. Its brilliant green covered the floor. Yet nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo. In the second year the fern grew more vibrant and plentiful. And again, nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo. In year three there was still nothing from the bamboo seed. But I would not quit. In year four, again, there was nothing from the bamboo seed. I would not quit. Then in the fifth year a tiny sprout emerged from the earth. Compared to the fern it was seemingly small and insignificant…But just 6 months later the bamboo rose to over 100 feet tall. It had spent the five years growing roots. Those roots made it strong and gave it what it needed to survive. I would not give any of my creations a challenge it could not handle.”
He asked me, “‘Did you know, my child, that all this time you have been struggling, you have actually been growing roots? I would not quit on the bamboo. I will never quit on you.
“Don’t compare yourself to others. The bamboo had a different purpose from the fern. Yet they both make the forest beautiful. Your time will come,” God said to me. “You will rise high.”
“How high should I rise?” I asked.
“How high will the bamboo rise?” He asked in return.
“As high as it can?” I questioned.
“Yes,” He said, “‘Give me glory by rising as high as you can.”
I left the forest and brought back this story.

I hope these words can help you see that God will never give up on you.
Never, never, never give up.

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Personally, the moment I asked God a question and he gave ANY verbal answer, that would’ve convinced me. I wouldn’t have needed him to go into the long inspirational talk or fern and bamboo analogy. But it makes a better story to bring to friends. =)

May you all recognize that you are works in progress on your way to becoming masterpieces.