When Daly Kay was 14, we began a new tradition. Running the Disney Princess Half Marathon together. Every year since, any daughter that was over 14 joined us. It has become a quick jaunt away for just the big girls.
This year, Glory Joined us. She and Kemper had just competed in a big track meet Friday, and Bliss, Daly Kay and I had barely trained. Since Kemps and Glo were pretty sore, and Daly Kay, Bliss and I were not prepared, we just enjoyed the run together and didn’t break any land speed records. The time together was precious.
Maybe your family doesn’t run…maybe you hunt. Or garden. Or compete in travel soccer. Whatever you do, find something. Make it a tradition. The importance of traditions can be most felt from year to year as you are faced with the memories, the good, the bad…the strides you have made in overcoming since last year’s event…or the losses you are facing this year. Some miles this year were filled with laughter, some with tears, but we finished the race and put another one in the books.
And that race reminds me a lot about life.
Despite the intense pain in my knees, I kept making steps forward. Despite exhaustion, we kept laughing along the way. Even though I hadn’t trained and was not prepared for the race adequately, I still competed.
In parenting, in marriage, many times our struggles can feel much the same way. We face pain and heartbreak…but the only real option is to keep moving forward. We may be exhausted, but there are still plenty of things to laugh at and enjoy. We may never be adequately prepared for the current circumstance we face– in fact many times, there was no way to prep ourselves for the challenge. But just finish the race marked out for you. Keep putting one foot in front of the other. Laugh when you can, cry when you must, but keep marching. And at the finish line we will hear Him say, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant…”
“However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me– the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.” Acts 20:24
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