In this family, we have some pretty serious athletes. Swimming, cross country, triathlon, football…my kids really love to compete. And I love nothing more than watching them leave it all out there on the field.
My Trinity, TrinTrin, my little sixth grade wonder just completed her first year of cross country for Jupiter Christian School. Every day she went to practice and gave it her all. Her first meet I think her time was like 45:00. She came in next to last. She gave every practice all she had and most days after cross country she went to swim practice as well. Each meet she improved and each meet she came in towards the end of the competitors– but she never gave up and she never complained.
Yesterday was the district meet. The coach told her that if she beat just a couple of the girls she could proceed to regionals. She gave it all she had on a hot day throughout the entire course. She chugged along as quick as her little legs could carry her and at the end of the race she beat her time on that same course at the beginning of the year by 6 minutes.
But she was dead last.
By a long shot.
As she came around the corner for her final lap around the field, I yelled so loud and cheered for her (as though she was coming in first)- even though most parents and coaches were busy congratulating their finishers and the fact that the race was ongoing had all been but forgotten. One lone runner dared to finish under power while next to no one saw the courage that it took to come in last.
I wonder, how many of us as adults would dare to race, dare to even start something if we knew from the outset we would most likely finish last? It takes guts to be the slowest and still start.
It takes courage to come in last.
And that’s why Trin’s finish means so much to me. I count it such an incredible win for a kid to keep trying, to not give up, to improve so much and work so hard and still keep competing even if the only competitor left on the field is herself. Because one day, with that kind of heart and determination, that kind of never-give-up and keep-on-chugging attitude, this kid will win big.
I want encourage you that if you have a child who comes in last remember what kind of guts it takes to start something knowing you’ll likely be the last one finishing…and then encourage that child with what kind of winner they truly are.
Half Runner says
That’s beautiful. Good job Trinity! Well done, mom 🙂
Lyette Reback says
Thanks so much for your encouragement! She has truly been blessed with everyone’s comments today!
Sonja Friend-Uhl says
Good for her! 💛
Lyette Reback says
Thank you!
Karen Picciano says
She is fantastic. Always positive, she has amazing confidence and is comfortable in her own skin. She doesn’t give up and that perseverance will serve her well in life. We all could learn a life lesson (or two) from your Trinity.
Lyette Reback says
Thank you so much! SHe has had such a great time getting to know Olivia!
Sandra Rick Rimes says
That’s so encouraging, can’t wait to share this with my kids this am!
Lyette Reback says
So glad you’ll share it with them! Your kiddos are so awesome!
Adina Eison says
She is an amazing young lady that could teach us all a thing or two! Congratulations on an excellent season Trinity 🎉🎉
Adina Eison says
She is an amazing young lady that could teach us all a thing or two. Congratulations on a terrific season Trinity! You are a rockstar 🙂
Lyette Reback says
Thank you Adina! much love to you!
Lisa Renee Hanes-Cox says
She truly is an incredible young lady! She is a winner! I enjoyed talking with her last year at the opening race at Benjamin where she took the time to give me advice on how to get my Grand Girlie to wear and KEEP a hair bow in her hair. I felt like I was talking with an adult! Trinity is an amazing young lady!!!!!! BTW- her advice worked with my Grand Girlie!!!!!!
Lyette Reback says
Thank you for always being such an encourager!
Lisa Renee Hanes-Cox says
The Race
“Quit, give up, you’re beaten”
They shout at you and plead
“There’s just too much against you
This time you can’t succeed”.
And as I start to hang my head
In front of failures face
My downward fall is broken by
The memory of a race
And hope refills my weakened will
As I recall that scene
Or just the thought of that short race
Rejuvenates my being
Childrens race, young boys
Young men, how I remember well
Excitement sure, but also fear
It wasn’t hard to tell
They all lined up so full of hope
Each thought to win that race
Or tie for first, or if not that
At least take second place
The fathers watched from off the side
Each cheering for his son
And each boy hoped to show his dad
That he could be the one
The whistle blew and off they went
Young hearts and hopes afire
To win and be the hero there
Was each young boys desire
And one boy in particular
Whose dad was in the crowd
Was running near the lead and thought
“My dad will be so proud”
But as they speeded down the field
Across a shallow dip
The little boy who thought to win
Lost his step and slipped
Trying hard to catch himself
With hands flew out to brace
And amid the laughter of the crowd
He fell flat on his face
But as he fell his dad stood up
And showed his anxious face
Which to the boy so clearly said
“Get up and win the race”
He quickly rose, no damage done
Behind a bit that’s all
And ran with all his night and mind
To make up for the fall
So anxious to restore himself
To catch up and to win
His mind went faster than his legs
He slipped and fell again
He wised then that he had quit before
With only one disgrace
“I’m hopeless as a runner now
I shouldn’t try to race”
But in the laughing crowd he searched
And found his fathers face
That steady look which said again
“Get up and win the race”
So up he jumped to try again
Ten yards behind the last
If I’m going to gain those yards he though
I’ve got to move real fast
Exerting everything he had
He regained eight or ten
But trying hard to catch the lead
He slipped and fell again
Defeat, he lay there silently
A tear dropped from his eye
There’s no sense running anymore
Three strikes, I’m out, why try?
The will to rise had disappeared
All hope had fled away
So far behind so error prone
A loser all the way
“I’ve lost, so what”, he thought
I’ll live with my disgrace
But then he thought about his dad
Whom soon he’d have to face
“Get up” the echo sounded low
“Get up” and take your place
You were not meant for failure here
“Get up”, and win the race
With borrowed will “Get up” it said
“You haven’t lost at all”
For winning is no more than this
To rise each time you fall
So up he rose to run once more
And with a new commit
He resolved, that win or lose
At least he shouldn’t quit
So far behind the others now
The most he’d ever been
Still he’d give it all he had
And run as though to win
Three times he’d fallen, stumbling
Three times he’d rose again
Too far behind to hope to win
He still ran to the end
They cheered the winning runner
As he crossed the line first place
Head high and proud and happy
No falling, no disgrace
But when the fallen youngster
Crossed the line, last place
The crowd gave him the greater cheer
For finishing the race
And even though he came in last
With head bent low, unproud
You would have thought he’d won the race
To listen to the crowd
And to his dad he sadly said
“I didn’t do too well”
“To me you won”, his father said
“You rose each time you fell”
written by
D. H. Groberg
A pastor shared this poem from the pulpit a few years ago and your lovely post reminded me of this awesome poem.
Erica Lazarus says
She did awesome and I was so proud of her in each and every race I saw her compete in 🙂
Lyette Reback says
Thanks Erica! You are an inspiration too!
Sherrin Reviere Nissen says
Ditto. This was Ellie’s first year also and it was excuriating for her. She had asked me not to attend because she thought I would be embarrassed by her slow finish. I explained to her nothing she could do on that trail would embarrass me becuz I was so proud she was out there trying! So I attended to quietly encourage her. Honestly and secretly I marveled at where she was getting the courage to go out each time knowing she would get sick and knowing she would come in long after her friends and all other competitors. With determination and great support from coaches and teammates she persevered. Btw your super young lady was quick to congratulate Ellie, a competitor, who was usually somewhere near her at the finish.
Niki Warren Cavallo says
Amen to that! It will serve her in ways that become for obvious to me with each passing day. That strength isn’t so easy to teach and, in my book, there are few more important qualities in a person. Way to go, Trinity! Keep on running’!