My daughter loves to run, and despite her pint-sized frame, she is fast! When she was in first grade, her coach encouraged us to enter her in the town's one-mile fun run.
The day of the race, she took off strong, but around the second turn, her foot caught another girl's ankle, and she took a violent tumble. Because the route circled around several blocks, I didn't see her fall. I didn't know what had happened until she came across the finish line with blood dripping down her face and her left eye swollen shut.
As she passed the finish line, I ran to her. "What happened?" I nervously asked. She began to cry and recount her painful experience. After hearing what she had gone through, I was surprised she finished the race. I asked her why she had not stopped running when she fell.
Her answer surprised me, "I didn't know I could stop running. I thought finishing the race was my only choice." God gave Mackenzie strength, endurance and character because she kept her eyes on the finish line.
I have thought about that day a lot. As Christians, I think that is how we are supposed to live. Sometimes the race is hard and painful, but quitting is not an option. God will provide us the strength to run it. He also promises that great reward awaits us at the finish line.
Promise for Today:
2 Timothy 4:7-8 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth, there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me, but also to all who have loved his appearing.
The day of the race, she took off strong, but around the second turn, her foot caught another girl's ankle, and she took a violent tumble. Because the route circled around several blocks, I didn't see her fall. I didn't know what had happened until she came across the finish line with blood dripping down her face and her left eye swollen shut.
As she passed the finish line, I ran to her. "What happened?" I nervously asked. She began to cry and recount her painful experience. After hearing what she had gone through, I was surprised she finished the race. I asked her why she had not stopped running when she fell.
Her answer surprised me, "I didn't know I could stop running. I thought finishing the race was my only choice." God gave Mackenzie strength, endurance and character because she kept her eyes on the finish line.
I have thought about that day a lot. As Christians, I think that is how we are supposed to live. Sometimes the race is hard and painful, but quitting is not an option. God will provide us the strength to run it. He also promises that great reward awaits us at the finish line.
Promise for Today:
2 Timothy 4:7-8 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth, there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me, but also to all who have loved his appearing.
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