Rodney A. Winters's Blog
January 11, 2025
Please Throw In The Towel
There are many phrases we use regularly that I believe we misunderstand the meaning of. One such phrase is “throwing in the towel”. This phrase is common in our culture and music. We’re usually told not to throw in the towel. Throwing in the towel is presumed to be a negative thing—something to avoid at all costs. It’s believed to mean you’re giving up. People encourage us to not give up for any reason or under any circumstance.
I’m not suggesting we should give up or quit, I’m just suggesting we use a different metaphor. The term throwing in the towel comes from the sport of boxing. When a boxer is losing badly and his corner feels he can’t go on, they will throw in the towel as a signal for the referee to stop the fight.
The referee is supposed to know when a fight should be stopped, but they are not always aware. Sometimes the people who are supposed to protect you will let you get killed. We all need a “corner” to look out for us. I’m grateful for friends and family in my corner who come to my rescue when I can’t do anything for myself. A boxer can’t throw in the towel for himself. It has to come from the corner. A boxer doesn’t have a towel. All he has is his gloves (and they’re laced on). The act of throwing in the towel is always on behalf of someone else.
Spectators might want the fight to continue because they have money on it. They’re not concerned about what’s best for the boxer. Having a towel thrown in for you means you can live to fight another day. Throwing in the towel is an act of mercy. It means someone believes you’ve had enough. There’s nothing wrong with someone recognizing your breaking point. Every fight isn’t worth fighting. That doesn’t make you a quitter.
Some people will stand around and watch you die. I witnessed the aftermath of a bad car accident in which one of the cars was flipped on its roof. Instead of calling 911 or helping the victims, people started pulling out their cell phones and taking pictures and videos I presume to share on social media. I contend that we need more towel-throwers. We have enough shade-throwers. How about we raise up some more towel-throwers?
Jeremiah 38 tells the story of a man named Ebed-Melech who “threw in the towel” to save the life of the prophet Jeremiah. We can learn a great deal from his example as we look out for others. We may never know the impact of the lives we touch because we throw in the towel. The next time someone tells you not to throw in the towel, tell them, “I’m sorry, but I have to. There’s somebody who needs me. They’re in the fight of their life, and if I don’t, they may die.”
I’m not suggesting we should give up or quit, I’m just suggesting we use a different metaphor. The term throwing in the towel comes from the sport of boxing. When a boxer is losing badly and his corner feels he can’t go on, they will throw in the towel as a signal for the referee to stop the fight.
The referee is supposed to know when a fight should be stopped, but they are not always aware. Sometimes the people who are supposed to protect you will let you get killed. We all need a “corner” to look out for us. I’m grateful for friends and family in my corner who come to my rescue when I can’t do anything for myself. A boxer can’t throw in the towel for himself. It has to come from the corner. A boxer doesn’t have a towel. All he has is his gloves (and they’re laced on). The act of throwing in the towel is always on behalf of someone else.
Spectators might want the fight to continue because they have money on it. They’re not concerned about what’s best for the boxer. Having a towel thrown in for you means you can live to fight another day. Throwing in the towel is an act of mercy. It means someone believes you’ve had enough. There’s nothing wrong with someone recognizing your breaking point. Every fight isn’t worth fighting. That doesn’t make you a quitter.
Some people will stand around and watch you die. I witnessed the aftermath of a bad car accident in which one of the cars was flipped on its roof. Instead of calling 911 or helping the victims, people started pulling out their cell phones and taking pictures and videos I presume to share on social media. I contend that we need more towel-throwers. We have enough shade-throwers. How about we raise up some more towel-throwers?
Jeremiah 38 tells the story of a man named Ebed-Melech who “threw in the towel” to save the life of the prophet Jeremiah. We can learn a great deal from his example as we look out for others. We may never know the impact of the lives we touch because we throw in the towel. The next time someone tells you not to throw in the towel, tell them, “I’m sorry, but I have to. There’s somebody who needs me. They’re in the fight of their life, and if I don’t, they may die.”
November 23, 2015
The Grateful Response
Sometimes we fail to stop and thank those who have done something kind for us. This time of year is a great reminder of how we should be grateful for all we have received. We should never be ashamed to show our gratitude. We should do so with excitement and joy, without concern for who may see or hear us.
Even if no one else around us says, thank you, when thanks is appropriate, we should give it. In spite of any challenges you and I may be facing, we still have many reasons to be thankful today.
Thanksgiving is about more than turkey, dressing and cranberry sauce. It’s bigger than football and parades. It’s even more important than spending time with family. Ultimately, God is the source of everything we have, and we should always be thankful to Him for all of His goodness to us. Have a happy Thanksgiving!
Even if no one else around us says, thank you, when thanks is appropriate, we should give it. In spite of any challenges you and I may be facing, we still have many reasons to be thankful today.
Thanksgiving is about more than turkey, dressing and cranberry sauce. It’s bigger than football and parades. It’s even more important than spending time with family. Ultimately, God is the source of everything we have, and we should always be thankful to Him for all of His goodness to us. Have a happy Thanksgiving!
December 18, 2013
It's Not As Bad As It Seems
One of the applications we can draw from the Christmas story is that things are not always as bad as they seem.
Joseph and Mary were a young, engaged couple. This carries the idea of hope, promise, dreams and potential. But before they ever came together physically, Joseph discovered that Mary was pregnant. Joseph knew that he was not the father of her child. This was, no doubt, devastating news for Joseph. In his mind, the young woman with whom he had planned a future had been unfaithful to him. This was a deal-breaker for Joseph. These types of discoveries force one to make some decisions. Joseph’s decision was to secretly end his engagement.
Although Joseph was not aware of it, God was behind the discovery he had made. The Child Mary was carrying had been conceived by the Holy Spirit. God is often working behind the scenes in our personal situations, and we do not realize it. But after the discovery and the decision, Joseph received some direction from an angel – a messenger from God. The angel told Joseph to proceed with his plans to marry his fiancee. Even though Joseph’s fear and reservation were justified, the angel assured him that he could stop being fearful, because this was all a part of God’s plan.
The thing that Joseph thought was the worst that could have happened, turned out to be the best thing that could have occurred. The Savior that the world had been awaiting was going to be born in his household. Joseph was planning to get rid of Mary and what (who) he really needed the most – Jesus. Joseph’s deliverance was closer than he understood. Just as things were not as bad as they initially seemed to Joseph, your current circumstance is probably not the end for you.
Maybe you started out with great hope, potential and promise, but you discovered something that threatens your dreams. You have made the decision to get rid of something that is ultimately what you need. Don’t make the mistake that Joseph almost did. The situation that you thought would destroy your dreams could actually be orchestrated by God to bring relief. What you thought was the worst may actually be one of the best things that could ever happen to you. Like the angel told Joseph, don’t be afraid to pursue your dreams!
Joseph and Mary were a young, engaged couple. This carries the idea of hope, promise, dreams and potential. But before they ever came together physically, Joseph discovered that Mary was pregnant. Joseph knew that he was not the father of her child. This was, no doubt, devastating news for Joseph. In his mind, the young woman with whom he had planned a future had been unfaithful to him. This was a deal-breaker for Joseph. These types of discoveries force one to make some decisions. Joseph’s decision was to secretly end his engagement.
Although Joseph was not aware of it, God was behind the discovery he had made. The Child Mary was carrying had been conceived by the Holy Spirit. God is often working behind the scenes in our personal situations, and we do not realize it. But after the discovery and the decision, Joseph received some direction from an angel – a messenger from God. The angel told Joseph to proceed with his plans to marry his fiancee. Even though Joseph’s fear and reservation were justified, the angel assured him that he could stop being fearful, because this was all a part of God’s plan.
The thing that Joseph thought was the worst that could have happened, turned out to be the best thing that could have occurred. The Savior that the world had been awaiting was going to be born in his household. Joseph was planning to get rid of Mary and what (who) he really needed the most – Jesus. Joseph’s deliverance was closer than he understood. Just as things were not as bad as they initially seemed to Joseph, your current circumstance is probably not the end for you.
Maybe you started out with great hope, potential and promise, but you discovered something that threatens your dreams. You have made the decision to get rid of something that is ultimately what you need. Don’t make the mistake that Joseph almost did. The situation that you thought would destroy your dreams could actually be orchestrated by God to bring relief. What you thought was the worst may actually be one of the best things that could ever happen to you. Like the angel told Joseph, don’t be afraid to pursue your dreams!
November 18, 2009
Forgiveness: A Key to Recovery
I believe one of the keys to recovering from failure is experiencing forgiveness from those we have hurt. Unfortunately this is not always possible. Those individuals we have offended may be unwilling to forgive. They may no longer be alive. One can still, however, experience God’s forgiveness. It only requires repentance and confession on our part.
One must also be willing to be on the giving end of forgiveness. We should forgive others just as we have been forgiven by God. We cannot afford to fall into the trap of bitterness. Extending forgiveness is not so much for the person who has wronged us, as it is for ourselves. Many times the person that we are holding hostage with our unforgiveness is not even aware or affected by it. We are the ones who are being eaten up on the inside by our resentment. We lose sleep, experience health issues, or become agitated when we think about what that person has done to us. We need to release that person and trust God to make things right.
