With spring coming, our thoughts are toward the beauty of blooming flowers and budding plants.  Depending on the weather, some things may bloom late.  Sometimes people are late bloomers.  What does the phrase, “late bloomer” mean to you?  For some folks it refers to a new lease on health and vitality.  For others it could mean an heretofore unused, unknown skill or talent.  It might even refer to fulfilling a dream later in life such as an education or a new interest. Yes, something somewhere within, that was previously undiscovered or experienced, springs forth with renewed strength and life . .  . alas, not so for me. (*Sigh*) Yes, there was an area in my life where I was a late bloomer, but it wasn’t impressive, exciting, nor did it reek with accomplishment.  For me, being a late bloomer meant . . .  a wart.  (*Sigh*)Yes, at the mature (?) age of 37, I acquired my very first wart!
This is an experience most have put behind them in grade school!  At the age of 39 I still had my first wart!
My mother quit documenting outstanding accomplishments in by baby book when I was about 8 years old, so this earth shattering event was not recorded.  I spent close to $50 on liquids and pads to remove my little companion. (This was to save $25 in the doctor’s office.) Yet all was at loss. . .my little wart stayed with me.  I was amazed at the great persistence it had shown in remaining.
I began to think, what if I had shown the same persistence as my wart in my prayer life over a period of 2 years?  What many wonders would God have wrought in my life and the lives of those around me?      If I had applied the perseverance of my tiny pal to my Bible reading for an interval of 2 years, I would have gleaned such knowledge and wisdom that my life would have been transformed!
If two years of the same dogged determination as my little buddy had been applied to being a wife and mother pleasing to God, my marriage and family would have shown major fruit!  Two years of my small comrade’s diligence applied to any area of my Christian life, would have cultivated awesome changes!
Sad to say, one of the areas I lacked the persistence I needed was in applying the medication to remove the wart!  In the beginning not even Custard attacked the Indians with the zeal that I attacked this pesky little fiend!!  It would seem to weaken and wane, but it’s persistence was greater than mine.  Back and forth we fought, each, I’m sure, thinking from time to time to have won the victory.  However, due to my lack of consistency AND persistence, my first wart remained with me for 2 years!  It was bad enough to be a late bloomer, but to be outsmarted by a wart!  That was a low blow!  I finally surrendered and went to the doctor to end our “partnership”.     Not all was lost (except about $100), I did learn a valuable lesson – PERSISTENCE PAYS!  When you feel weak, defeated, and almost extinct, CONTINUE ON and you will win! Whether your battle is with bad habits, spiritual warfare, discouragement, whatever it is, NEVER GIVE UP!  Your diligence will keep you in the battle!  As long as you’re in the battle, you have a chance to win!  If a common wart with no brain can endure, can’t I?  Can’t you?  I decided, after all, a late bloomer like me doesn’t have to be a slow learner too!
“For which cause we faint not, but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
“For light our affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.”  2 Corinthians 4:16-17
“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” Galations 6;9
Published in the Oklahoma Baptist Newspaper, April 1998