Running The Race

We have runners in our family.
My children and some of my in-loves like to run.
They run for exercise.
They run for sheer enjoyment.

If my children are runners, they do not get that skill from me.
I am a walker.
I can usually walk fast, but I am no where near the speed of a runner.
You either love running or you don’t.

One of my sons-in-love, who is a teacher, used to be a track coach at our local high school.
He is now a father of four children, and his children, especially his oldest, love to run.
She may only be in first grade, but she is fast.
Another son-in-love has run in many races and has medals to prove it.

My oldest son ran track in high school and college.
My younger son tracks his running and accumulates miles upon miles in a year.
I have no desire to run.
Walking at my pace is perfectly fine for me.

My youngest daughter ran a 10K this past weekend.
My husband and I went to the race to support her.
I wasn’t sure what to expect, since I had never watched a race like this before.
The race was for women, and I saw women of all ages at the starting line.

I found my daughter in the crowd.
She had her earbuds in her ears and was ready to listen to the playlist that would spur her on.
A friend ran in the race with her.
My son-in-love was there to cheer his wife from the sidelines.

After the Star Spangled Banner was played, the horn sounded and the runners were off.
This 10K was run on a trail that consisted of actual roads that were closed for the event.
My husband and I knew we had to arrive early enough to be able to park the car.
My son-in-love saw us right away and came over to join us.

I saw my daughter’s number on the pinny, along with her name.
The day was perfect with a clear blue sky.
It was a bit chilly in the morning, but all the runners would generate heat as they ran.
My daughter had been training for this distance and used her watch to pace herself.

One woman ran in a pink cape.
Some women ran together as friends.
One group of women walked the entire way.
Even some young girls ran the race with their mothers.

It was a perfect day to be outside.
One of the organizers went along the barricades and handed out cow bells to the spectators.
We were told to shake them as the runners crossed the finish line.
The 5K runners came back first to a sound of cheerful cow bells.

Soon, the fastest woman crossed the finish line.
She came in first for the 10K race.
No one was even near her and it was minutes before someone else finished.
The organizers had a banner and took her picture under the arch at the finish line.

My son-in-love and daughter shared their location, so he knew where she was in the race.
At a certain point, he moved to another area so he could see her turn the corner at the final stretch.
He texted me from that vantage point so my husband could be ready to take her picture.
There she was, keeping her pace, coming towards us, ready to finish.

We cheered and rang our cow bells.
She set out to finish at her own steady pace.
She achieved her goal.
She finished the race with a time of which she was proud.

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. (Hebrews 12:1)

As we cheered for all the runners, I thought of the great cloud of witnesses.
I thought of all the ones, in Christ, who have gone before us.
I thought of them cheering us on until we reach the finish line.
We reach the finish line in different ways, running at our own unique pace.

Can you hear the ones who have gone before us cheering us to press on?
Can you see the joy on the face as each one crosses over after completing the race?
My daughter and the other runners got a medal.
We, who are in Christ, get a crown.

Now there is in store for me the 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 longed for his appearing.
(2 Timothy 4:8)

A crown that we will immediately lay at His feet.
Here is what you gave me; I used it for Your glory.
I ran with all my might.
I finished the race.

Do you hear the sound of cow bells?