It was a perfect day. 65 degrees and not a cloud in the sky. The blue above contrasted with the cornucopia of color, vibrant energy, and thousands of people around me on the National Mall in Washington D.C. From the air I imagine it looked like a very busy colony of colorful ants. I was at mile 11 on the Marine Corps Marathon route that our daughter Katy was running.
Although she’s run many half-marathons in different states, this was her first full and training for it had been difficult (What an understatement – like ANYONE training for a marathon has it easy!).
I had gotten her split time at 6 miles and she was on pace. I peered over heads and around little kids as the runners kept streaming past me by the side of the road. I kept craning my neck, looking so hard for the bright teal t-shirt I knew she was wearing. I felt overcome with emotion – hopes and dreams for, and pride in this precious daughter of mine.
I anxiously kept scanning the crowds of runners and praying for Katy, like the father of the prodigal son, willing him to come into view from afar off.
Is this a tiny bit of what our Heavenly Father feels as He watches us running our race of faith? Is He picking us out of the crowd, fully aware of the miles when it’s going to be harder to keep putting one foot in front of another? Continue reading
