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The Courage to Come in Last

Posted by Lyette Reback on October 20, 2016.
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facetune2In 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 ofย  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.

 

October 20, 2016

Filed Under: Moms, Teens, Tweens, Uncategorized

Comments

  1. Half Runner says

    October 20, 2016 at 8:52 am

    That’s beautiful. Good job Trinity! Well done, mom ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
    • Lyette Reback says

      October 20, 2016 at 8:29 pm

      Thanks so much for your encouragement! She has truly been blessed with everyone’s comments today!

      Reply
  2. Sonja Friend-Uhl says

    October 20, 2016 at 9:08 am

    Good for her! ๐Ÿ’›

    Reply
    • Lyette Reback says

      October 20, 2016 at 8:28 pm

      Thank you!

      Reply
  3. Karen Picciano says

    October 20, 2016 at 9:15 am

    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.

    Reply
    • Lyette Reback says

      October 20, 2016 at 8:28 pm

      Thank you so much! SHe has had such a great time getting to know Olivia!

      Reply
  4. Sandra Rick Rimes says

    October 20, 2016 at 9:29 am

    That’s so encouraging, can’t wait to share this with my kids this am!

    Reply
    • Lyette Reback says

      October 20, 2016 at 8:28 pm

      So glad you’ll share it with them! Your kiddos are so awesome!

      Reply
  5. Adina Eison says

    October 20, 2016 at 9:34 am

    She is an amazing young lady that could teach us all a thing or two! Congratulations on an excellent season Trinity ๐ŸŽ‰๐ŸŽ‰

    Reply
  6. Adina Eison says

    October 20, 2016 at 9:36 am

    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 ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
    • Lyette Reback says

      October 20, 2016 at 8:27 pm

      Thank you Adina! much love to you!

      Reply
  7. Lisa Renee Hanes-Cox says

    October 20, 2016 at 9:54 am

    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!!!!!!

    Reply
    • Lyette Reback says

      October 20, 2016 at 8:27 pm

      Thank you for always being such an encourager!

      Reply
  8. Lisa Renee Hanes-Cox says

    October 20, 2016 at 9:57 am

    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.

    Reply
  9. Erica Lazarus says

    October 20, 2016 at 1:42 pm

    She did awesome and I was so proud of her in each and every race I saw her compete in ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
    • Lyette Reback says

      October 20, 2016 at 8:28 pm

      Thanks Erica! You are an inspiration too!

      Reply
  10. Sherrin Reviere Nissen says

    October 21, 2016 at 7:10 am

    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.

    Reply
  11. Niki Warren Cavallo says

    October 21, 2016 at 8:00 am

    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’!

    Reply

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