just keep running…

Life is a marathon, NOT a sprint. This is something I have to remind myself of every darn day.

This photo was taken at a CYO track meet when I was in the fourth grade. I was one scrawny nine year old who had more energy than most. I struggled to read and math was my enemy. My mom thought track and field would help build my confidence.

When you look at this photo the first thing you might think is “She won!!”. Awesome right?

Ummm no. Mary did not win that day. This was a mile run and those four laps were the longest of my life and I was lapped TWICE! I came in dead last.

So why do I look so happy, hands raised to heaven? Because I DID NOT QUIT! The crowd was on their feet and they were cheering like madmen. I just remember my Dad’s booming voice from the stands…”Just keep running, Mary Beth. Don’t you quit. You’re almost home.”

Y’all my lungs were burning, my legs felt like jello and I wanted to vomit. I was embarrassed that I was so far behind…BuT my Dad was there cheering me on so I just kept running because he said so.

I remember turning that last corner and I saw my Dad at the finish line with his arms open wide waiting for me and I raised my hands and ran the fastest 100 yards of my life with my hands raised in surrender. I fell into his arms and promptly threw up over his shoulder. He didn’t care because I was home and I had not given up.

Y’all this is all our Heavenly Father asks of us. When it’s hard as hell and our lungs are burning and we can’t breathe and we cannot imagine anything getting any better and we just want to sit down and cry because it all just sucks and who thought we could do this &#@! anyway??

God did!! He is your greatest cheerleader my friends, never leaving you running alongside next to you the whole race. HE NEVER LEAVES YOU! So get those hands in the air my friends and run! The Father waits to catch you in His loving arms.

Also, I’m pretty sure there is no vomit in heaven, so I’ve got that going for me.