Short Gains

Sunday’s NFL matchup took place between the Steelers and the Browns (12.28.25), or, as I would say, Aaron Rodgers and Shedeur Sanders.  I was all in for that game.  It’s fun to watch veteran quarterbacks go against rookie quarterbacks.  And, while it was a low scoring game, the Browns walked away with a win.  And, thankfully, Aaron Rodgers didn’t limp off with an injury.  Defensive End, Myles Garrett was closing in on the NFL single season sack record, and he was relentless in his pursuit of taking down future hall of fame QB, Rodgers.  But, the thing that really got my attention that day was early in the game when Rodgers completed a pass, picking up a couple yards.  The color commentator said on live television, “Steelers with a short gain.”

Now, I’ve heard the term “short gain” a million times while watching football, but, on this particular day with the new year on the horizon, it resonated with me differently.  The short goal in football is a first down. The idea is to keep the ball moving toward the end zone for a touchdown and sometimes just a plain old field goal.  But, every time the ball is handed off or passed, however many yards are picked up are still moving the team toward the goal.  Sometimes it’s forty yards and sometimes it’s two.  A gain is a gain no matter how small. 

Fast forward to 2026.  Here we are blessed as can be to be this side of the dirt.  If God woke us up today, he has something for us and he has something in us worth sharing.  As I type, it’s January 8th.  And, my list of goals perfectly written on a nice piece of paper with a felt tip pen has gone from the top of the stack of important documents to lurking somewhere below an Invisalign brochure and sales tax info that I need to send in to my accountant.  Not even six days in, and, not only is it not top of mind, it’s near the bottom of the stack.  June will come, God willing I’m still alive and well with a story to tell, and I’ll reflect on my well intended resolutions with complete disdain for another year of betraying myself by not working to make my dreams a reality or my britches a size or three smaller.  And, I’ll shame the h-e-double-hockey-sticks out of myself for bailing on myself.  P.S.  I wouldn’t bail on my best friend or a stranger, but I’ll bail on myself ten million times over which, quite frankly, may be worse.  

When looking at the long game, you have to honor the short gains.  My metric is a touchdown not even a first down (much less a couple yards).  But, two yards here and eight yards there keeps you in the game.  And, if you stay in the game, you will have a measurable outcome.  Dare. I. Say. TOUCHDOWN!  

As a parent, I’m a pretty strict disciplinarian, but I’m very intentional about giving my son, River, praise when praise is due. A small praise might be, “Buddy, I’m proud of you for showing up to choir practice week in and out at an early hour with no complaints.”  A large praise might  be, “Your performance in choir at chapel today was epic.  You were confident, prepared and shined bright for all the school to see.”  You cannot have one without the other.  Every time River gets up and out at an early hour to go to choir practice, it shows commitment.  He’s establishing a small habit and at the same time creating short gains.  Practice by practice, he improves.  And, a brilliant choir performance came to fruition as a result of the work he put in week after week.  He kept showing up.

On the other hand, when it comes to myself, I have touchdown vision.  I think mastery should occur fast and furiously.  I want to come out of the huddle and throw the ball for a touchdown immediately, hit the celly with my team in the end zone and head to the locker room.  Cue the champagne.  While we’re at it, get a trainer over here, I’m an older QB and could use a little ice and massage.  Sadly, it doesn’t work that way.  Womp.  Wooooooomp.  In truth, it doesn’t work that way by design.  Things that come to us easily, don’t build character.  They create the idea that with minimal effort, you can get maximum results.  Short gains aren’t good enough for people also known as me (yes, sadly, me) who thinks the first try should get you in the end zone.  But, short gains are what eventually get you in the end zone, the playoffs, the championship, the Ring of Honor, the Hall of Fame.  

I’m adjusting my vision today with sights set on a different outcome for myself.  I’m not lowering my expectations, I’m adjusting them.  My goal is to simply stay in the game.  I won’t be sidelined by a scale that doesn’t show a ten pound loss after one full day of healthy eating followed by a brisk walk.  No, I’ll put on my short gain glasses and see that one day of healthy eating coupled with a brisk walk is a beautiful start, something to build on.  And, I’ll keep showing up for myself just like River shows up for his music teacher every single week without fail.  

In this analogy of weight loss, it won’t be an immediate ten pound loss. Instead, it will be a one pound win one week, a two pound win the next week, and if I keep the ball moving, TOUCHDOWN, this girl will be ten pounds down.  The ten pound loss will be welcome, but the the journey of all the small gains that got me there will be what’s most worth celebrating.  That grit and grind is to be appreciated and respected.

Whatever your resolutions, goals or dreams are, I hope you’ll adjust your expectation and find joy in the daily grind of reaching them.  Instead of taking the path of least resistance, let’s be bold enough to challenge ourselves because we’re worth it.  Those things that people tell us we’re gifted in, are messages from God.  Those feelings of concern about our health that only we know about, are messages from God. And, maybe, just maybe, this humble message from a deeply flawed and rascally human like me is a message from God simply to say, “I know your hearts desire.  And, you deserve it.  Start the journey.  My child, it will be worth it.”

Philippians 4:13 “I can do ALL things through Christ who gives me strength.”

Wishing you all the best and biggest blessings in 2026!

Stay Divine,

JL PARISH