That Little Push

A little steam engine had a long train of cars to pull. She went along very well till she came to a steep hill. But then, no matter how hard she tried, she could not move the long train of cars. She pulled and she pulled. She puffed and she puffed. She backed and started off again. Choo! Choo! But no! The cars would not go up the hill. At last she left the train and started up the track alone. Do you think she had stopped working? No, indeed! She was going for help. "Surely I can find someone to help me," she thought. Over the hill and up the track went the little steam engine. Choo, choo, choo! Pretty soon she saw a big steam engine standing on a side track. He looked very big and strong. Running alongside, she looked up and said: "Will you help me over the hill with my train of cars? It is so long and heavy I can't get it over." The big steam engine looked down at the little steam engine. Then he said: "Don't you see that I am through my day's work? I have been rubbed and scoured ready for my next run. No, I cannot help you."

The little steam engine was sorry, but she went on. Choo, choo, choo! Soon she came to a second big steam engine standing on a side track. He was puffing and puffing, as if he were tired. "That big steam engine may help me," thought the little steam engine. She ran alongside and asked: "Will you help me bring my train of cars over the hill? It is so long and so heavy that I can't get it over." The second big steam engine answered: "I have just come in from a long, long run. Don't you see how tired I am? Can't you get some other engine to help you this time?” 

"I'll try," said the little steam engine, and off she went. Choo, choo, choo! After a while she came to a little steam engine just like herself. She ran alongside and said: "Will you help me over the hill with my train of cars? It is so long and so heavy that I can't get it over." "Yes, indeed!" said this little steam engine. "I'll be glad to help you, if I can." So the little steam engines started back to where the train of cars had been standing. Both little steam engines went to the head of the train, one behind the other. Puff, puff! Chug, choo! Off they started! Slowly the cars began to move. 

Slowly they climbed the steep hill. As they climbed, each little steam engine began to sing: "I-think-I-can! I-think-I- can! I-think-I-can! I-think-I-can!..." And they did! Very soon they were over the hill and going down the other side. Now they were on the plain again; and the little steam engine could pull her train herself. So she thanked the little engine who had come to help her, and said goodbye. And she went merrily on her way, singing: "I-thought-I-could! I-thought-I-could! I-thought-I-could!"

Where do the days go? I'm sitting here, just coming in to my dorm for the first time since 6:50 AM this morning. And it is almost 10:00 PM.

To say I am exhausted would be an understatement. 

I began my day with a full day of teaching, and heavy load today. It all went well. Then I rushed back to campus for class, had class, ate dinner, rushed to my room to change, then went to another class that I was an "honorary member" of tonight. 

I sat through the class, which went just past nine, and we had one of the famous authors with us. She needed some help getting to where she was staying, so I walked about 2 blocks with her and made sure she got in the building okay. I was so happy to help! And we had a great conversation, well, just about our love for children's literature. She's an amazing woman and I am blessed to be working with her again over the next two days.

Anyway, this is what my schedule looks like for the next three days:

-Tomorrow: Wake at 6, commute to school (45 minutes), take my children to the literacy festival all day, come back to school, plan for next week, arrive back to my dorm around 6:00 PM or later. There are two things I am supposed to go to/participate in tomorrow night, but I don't know that I will be able.

-Saturday: Wake at 6, assist author with autographing 7, attend the conference all day 7-3, help load books into my car to carry, commute at 4, sell books at the endowment dinner, attend endowment dinner, commute back, go to bed (10 or later).

-Sunday: Wake up at 6, commute to my professor's house (30 minutes), commute to the church with him that I am playing organ for (which, also, I still need to make time to practice), (45 minutes), attend service and Bible class, commute back to school another hour and fifteen minutes, grab a quick lunch, work 1-3, begin planning for next week, 3-10 PM.

And then Monday begins a new day with class at 7:30 AM and then school all day, class at night.

Considering my current level of energy, I'm trying to tell myself, I think I can, I think I can, I think I can, just like that little engine.

When I look back at the times I failed and couldn't, I tell myself, "No, you can't. Look at the times you were busy too- that's when you got sick. Give up. Cancel some things. Back out. Don't go on."


It's hard too, my foot (the one I fractured), was injured again last night. I have so many piles and so much stuff to sort, work on, or organize this weekend, that when I was stumbling around in the dark, I tripped, gashed my foot on a sharp edge (big gash, blood everywhere), and the part of the foot that was fractured is now throbbing.  I will be on my feet a ton the next few days. It won't be easy.

But that little voice inside me continues to push me... "I think I can, I think I can, I think I can..."