Never Once

Scars and struggles on the way
But with joy our hearts can say
Never once did we ever walk alone
Carried by Your constant grace

Held within Your perfect peace

Never once, no, we never walk alone

(lyrics by Matt Redman, Jason Ingram and Tim Wanstall)

 

(Photo (1):  Mom, with her precious friend, Susan Rine, 
ringing the victory bell on her last day of radiation on 10/9/12;
 Photo (2) by Tim Roberts:  Ian and I crossing the Finish Line
at the Crossroads Church 5K on 11/3/12)

 

 

Our whole family decided to run/walk the 1 Mile Fun Run in the Race for Stanton at Crossroads Church 5K in  honor and support of Stanton and Stacey Johnston as Stanton battles Stage 4 Brain Cancer. On the morning of the race, Chris had to go into work and I arrived with the kids just a few minutes before the race was scheduled to begin.  With the help of friends, I was running around trying to get race numbers fastened on their shirts.  A few minutes later, they announced that the 5k Race was going to begin first and it seemed like the whole crowd ran to the start line.  There was a small crowd left and I started asking some of them if they were going to do the 1 Mile Fun Run but they said no.  I thought the Fun Run is not fun if there is no one to run the race with.  I yelled for the kids to follow me at the back of the line and that they were going to run this race.  The kids took off even my four year old son, Ian.  When he got tired, I carried him on my back so that he could catch his breath.  Then when he got his strength, I put him down and he ran some more.  Sometimes I would hold his hand so that he would not fall.  Other times, I would encourage him and tell him what a good job he was doing.  Then when he got tired again, he would just stop, hold his hands up and I would carry him again as he yelled, "Mom, go faster!!"  His favorite part of the race was the water station and how you could throw your cup down without getting into trouble.

At one point in the race, my seven year old son, Joseph said, "This is the longest mile ever."  I said, "I know what you mean."  I did not have the heart to tell him that we were not running/walking the 1 Mile Fun Run but the 5K (3.11 miles)!!  A few minutes later, Joseph told Ian to run faster because he was going to get a prize.  Ian yells, "A prize!!!" and took off.  I loved his excitement but I also knew that we were not going to win any prizes for speed.  I prayed, "God, please let the kids get something so they will not be disappointed."  After I prayed, I could faintly hear the cheers in the distance as people were finishing the race.  I knew that the finish line was not too far away.  This was just the boost we needed to finish the race. To those who wanted to give up, I pointed to the Finish Line and yelled, "RUN!!!"  When we crossed the Finish Line, I could not believe we had made it and all the kids were given a bear! They also got another bear just like it in their race bags!  The boys were thrilled that they had twin bears. Joseph named his bears, Kyle and MILE!   I knew that God, who is so tender, had answered my prayer for a "prize".  By the way, I also told Joseph that he did not just run/walk 1 mile but 3 miles and I wish you could have seen his face.  His eyebrows went up and his jaw dropped.  It was hilarious!  Maybe he will change his bear's name from Mile to Miles. :)

 

As I look back on the race, I suddenly realized that the race is like our journey through life. It is so much more fun to run the race with others. Who wants to do this alone. We need others to encourage us and motivate us to keep going when we want to give up. Most importantly, God is right there walking beside us to hold our hand when we begin to fall and carry us through difficult times.  "He gives strength to the weary and increase the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will walk and not be faint," (Isaiah 40:29-31).  In His tender mercy,  God does not tell us how long or how hard the journey will be because He knows our human minds could not handle all the details at once.  God wants us to trust and depend on Him, moment by moment, with child-like faith as He allows us to travel down a path that we were not expecting.  With every struggle or scar along the way, He promises that we will NEVER walk alone. "NEVER will I leave you; NEVER will I forsake you,” (Hebrews 13:5).   Even in our weakness, He tells us to press on toward the prize, run in His mighty strength, until we reach the end of this "race" and see Jesus face to face.   He is our great Reward and the Hope of Glory that does not disappoint.  In the end, when God reveals to us what He accomplished in and through us, may we be amazed and awe-struck at the greatness of our God.

"Let us run with endurance the race

set before us looking unto Jesus,

the author and finisher of our faith."

Hebrew 12:1

A note of deep gratitude to all those who have run the race with us in my mom's battle with multiple myeloma: 

Thank you Susan Rine for coordinating meals for my parents and for going with us to every one of Mom's doctor appointments and treatments! You have made us laugh everyday, even on days that we felt like crying. Only you could turn this into a Fun Run.

Thank you to all of the precious friends and family who brought meals to my parents and to us, sent flowers and gift baskets, made homemade breads and wrote cards filled with encouraging words to my mom. Each one was a gift from God and refreshed our family like water stations in a race!

Thank you to the MANY who have prayed for and over my parents!  We have felt your prayers for our family and been overwhelmed by the love of God and the love of God's people.  "On Him we have set our hope that He will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many," (2 Corinthians 1:10-11).