Sometimes Runners Need a Little Help!



Before the race:  cool, calm and collected

Bement, IL:  I ran a 5k today, and I felt pretty good for the first 2 miles, and then things fell apart.  I was going slower, and slower, and slower until I wanted to walk.  Then at 1/4 mile  just before the finish line, I saw my friend, Jim Taylor (who had completed the race in 22 minutes, so he had already caught his breath and was running back to find me!).  He ran with me, encouraged me, and helped me finish strong.  My time was certainly not a PR (32.31:19), but it was good for me where I am in my life.

Do you know that sometimes, runners in the race of life need encouragement?  Right now my husband Roger is going through some extreme health issues, and occasionally it is not pleasant in the Weldy house.  Why, you ask?  Because I can't figure out why he needs so much help running his race.  It seems that all I do is pick up, wipe up, clean up, sweep up, straighten up his trail of papers, juice, food crumbs, etc.

And then I remember how Moses was told to encourage Joshua, the man who would lead the children into the promised land.  Poor Moses--he didn't even get to go, but he was commanded to encourage Joshua. Deuteronomy 3:28 says:

But charge Joshua, and encourage him, and strengthen him: for he shall go over before this people, and he shall cause them to inherit the land which thou shalt see.

How many "Joshua's" do you come in contact with?  Someone you are running near needs your help.  Most people are either going into trouble, in the middle of trouble, or on their way out of trouble.  Look around you today and find someone you can encourage!



After the run: Did I mention I came in 2nd in the "old ladies' division?"