Running the Race!

Our youngest daughter, Claire, age 11, is in her final year of elementary school (6th grade).  Each autumn, our school district has a cross country track meet for all 7 elementary schools, grades 4-6.  Neither of my girls wanted to participate in this, until this year.  Claire is active but she is not really a runner.  She is a dancer.  Ballet is her passion, and biking, swimming, hiking, kayaking are all sports she does well in, yet running has never been her thing.  However, she is also very social and wanted to participate in the cross country meet because most of her close friends were doing so.  So, we signed the forms and she was all set to race!

We talked about how it doesn't matter where she places.  We talked about "doing your best" and just having fun trying something new.  She wasn't nervous at all and didn't seem to care if she was in the first group to cross the finish line or not.  (she wasn't...she was in one of the last groups for 6th grade girls).

Watching her come around the bend in the towne park, and across the lawn, towards those of us waiting near the bleachers, my heart swelled with pride.  She finished!!  She was running with all her might!  Yes, she walked along the trail ridge, she said.....the children are encouraged to do so if they become winded.  Although she is a strong dancer, different muscles are used for running.  She has good endurance but really doesn't like to run.  (I do like to run but am not very good/fast, and although I am in pretty good shape, I, too, get winded when running!)

As she ran past me and my 2 neighbors who were cheering her on, along with 2 of our 5th grade neighbor girls who were slated to run next, I immediately thought of the verse about finishing the race.

From 2 Timothy 4:7

"I have fought the good fight.  I have finished the race.  I have kept the faith."

 Now, Paul, in this letter, is not telling Timothy that he actually ran a race, as in a running race.  This actually refers to our spiritual journey.  

But....in watching Claire run past me, with reddened cheeks, hair pulled tightly into a ponytail and slapping against her back, arms and legs pumping and a determined look on her face, I was reminded that we, as Christians need to be "running the race" and finishing it!  I could tell she was tired.....she was probably thinking "how much further?!"  She is one determined gal.

And that's how we need to be with our walk in this life.  Determined.

Keeping our eyes focused and believing we can do it!

Yes, at times the race will seem daunting.  We will grow weary.  There might be obstacles in our path.  

However, if we run with the end in our minds we can overcome the challenges!

And we will face Jesus!  He is our eternal reward for a race well-run and finished!

Did Claire win the race??  No.

But sometimes, the winning is in the accomplishment of just doing.

Was it worth it?  YES....

And at the end of the race, when she saw a classmate crying on the ground, she went right over to offer comfort and words like what I spoke to her:

"it's ok....you did it!  You ran and finished!  and that's what is important"

And then she gave J a hug.

Now....that's a race well run!

Claire, age 11