You Can Do It

With five children, I cannot even begin to count how many times I have sat on the sidelines.
I sat on soccer fields, field hockey fields, and lacrosse fields.
I sat on T-ball fields, baseball fields, and outdoor tracks.
A sign on the front of me should have read, Professional Spectator.

My husband was even more faithful, volunteering as coach or assistant coach when needed.
At the college level, he went to far more of our children’s games than I did.
I was usually home with the other children, driving them where they needed to be.
Our family rule was one activity each but with five children, we were still quite busy.

We were never too busy to eat dinner together, though.
I was so protective of family dinnertime.
I did whatever it took so that we would eat at the table together every night.
That was the glue that held us together.

As I sat on the fields I would cheer on the sidelines with the inevitable distractions.
The youngest child would want to swing on the swings nearby.
I had one eye on the field and one eye on the youngest child who was with me.
I was not very loud but they always knew where I sat and they would turn to look at me.

That one glance over to the sidelines.
That one look to make sure I was looking at them.
That one face they sought for the thumbs up or the big smile.
How important to have someone cheering you on.

That was never more evident than in a news story I recently watched.
It is the kind of story the news channels should highlight more often.
It is the kind of story that renews your faith.
It is a simple gesture that changed the focus of a simple race.

It happened at an elementary school in Columbus, Ohio.
It was Race Day.
A young boy was told that he didn’t have to run the race; he could sit on the sidelines.
This young boy named, Matt, has cerebral palsy.

Matt began the race with his classmates.
He was determined to run the race and finish it.
He began the race and almost immediately, everyone passed him.
He was in last place but he kept going.

About halfway around the track, Matt was struggling.
He was slowing down and lagging far behind.
Someone on the sidelines took notice.
Matt’s gym teacher came towards Matt and walked beside him.

He gently encouraged Matt as he continued the race.
He never left his side.
Then, one by one, Matt’s classmates joined him as well.
They walked beside Matt and supported him the rest of the way.

They children began to cheer his name as they walked.
The large group approached the finish line, with Matt in front and his gym teacher beside him.
Matt’s mom was on the sidelines, too.
She was filming the whole race to show Matt’s father later that night.

Matt crossed the finish line with the support and encouragement of his friends.
Matt’s mom could not even find him in the crowd.
There were so many classmates around him giving him high fives and lots of hugs.
It was a moment that will never be forgotten by anyone who was on the field that day.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. (Hebrews 12:1-3)

We are also running a race.
The race of this life is arduous and tiring.
For many, it is difficult to go on.
We are tired and weary and quitting seems like a viable option.

But then someone comes alongside us.
Someone cheers us on.
Someone says, You can do it!
At that moment, we realize that we are not alone.

That is what discipleship is all about.
It is about coming alongside.
It is about helping someone press on when the journey is tough.
It is about making sure that no one runs the race alone.

There are other people on the sidelines who have gone before us.
They have already run the race.
They have gone before us and we can learn from them.
We are standing on the shoulders of those faithful men and women.

Can you hear them?
You can do it!
Press on!
You’re not alone!

God sprinkles people in our life to encourage us as we run the race set before us.
Their presence is vital in order for us to finish well.
We need one another.
We are meant for community.

It is apparent that community is not some peripheral Christian teaching but is
central to the outworking of God’s purpose in the world. God is glorified when He is
properly reflected; by dwelling in unity, we rightly image our communal Maker….We want to be distinct in the way we work, speak, think, rest, and play. We want to do those things which glorify our gracious Lord and Savior. To properly reflect His communal nature and to follow His communal commands, we must as a people engage in fellowship which is sacrificially loving, consistent, worshipful, and authentically transparent. In this way, we seek to “do life together.” (What is Biblical Community? by Matt Chandler, pastor of The Village Church in Flower Mound, Texas)

Matt Chandler says it is all about seeking to live Christianly.
It is doing life together.
It is helping each other press on.
It is never running the race alone.

The finish line is in sight.
Through faith alone in Jesus’ finished work on the cross, we will hear the cheers.
The great cloud of witnesses who have gone before us are cheering.
They are welcoming us Home.

Who needs your help to press on today?
Who needs encouragement to finish the race?
Who needs your support to help them cross the finish line?
We have only one race to run; let’s run it well, with a little help from our friends.

To watch the video of Matt’s Race, click the link below.
https://www.facebook.com/xamazingx/videos/265893473751765/