Watching my oldest son’s cross country race each weekend has been fun and exciting. When the race is about to begin the parents all line up pushing one another to see their boy take off. In most races there is approximately 100 to 500 kids racing at one time, so you can image the number of parents gathered around.
With some tracks, you only see the beginning and the end, with others the boys loop around several times. I have noticed when the track loops around and parents can stand on the sidelines cheering their boy on, there is a noticeable difference in the face of the runner. When a runner has cramped up or is struggling, yelling encouragement gives them that extra motivation to keep going.
The race this Saturday my son started out strong and I saw him loop around several times but during the last loop anyone could see he was struggling and growing weary. I did my Mom’s best and yelled out to keep going that he is almost to the finish line. My son pushed it with all he had and ended up beating a personal record while coming in first against his fellow JV runners from his particular school.
God being who God is did not let this lesson slide by me. I have a few friends who have been a cheering force in my life. When I felt I wanted to give up or life became unbearable, I heard from the sidelines “you can do it.” When I felt weak and insignificant, God reminded me He is strong and worth everything. I pray I am that way in their life in return. After watching my boy race and finish a great race, I am reminded once again this is what the Christian walk looks like. Sometimes we are in the race struggling, hurting, feeling like we can not take another step and other times we are outside the markers cheering the ones in the race.
But at the finish line we are all cheering. Maybe you need to hear this today:
“COME ON, YOU CAN DO, YOU ARE DOING A GREAT JOB, KEEP THE PACE, WE ARE ALMOST TO THE FINISH LINE!”
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