The Race

Here we are again. Today is the last day of the year 2011. Another year has raced by us. Even though many days are long, the years are indeed short.



Christmas has passed. We enjoyed spending the weekend with family and friends. There was a lot of food and laughter. One good laugh was at the expense of my sister Jean. She was proudly modeling her new American Eagle jeans, turned wrong and threw her back out. She spent Christmas day on the sofa. You have to laugh not to cry. When you get older seems you can’t sneeze without hurting yourself!



Last night Dan and I settled in by the fire and watched The Help. It is extremely rare for him to sit still that long. We actually managed to watch the entire movie with eyes open. We will see how we fair tonight as we attempt to ring in the New Year with friends.



Life is full of success and failures, sadness and rejoicing. Some days it seems life is just a rat race. We run just as hard as we can but seem to go no where. Those times we wonder if we have the strength to endure.



I was sitting a friend’s memorial Christmas week asking God why to many questions. I was grieving the loss of a precious friend and many other things. I was comforted by a friend’s statement, “Just think what kind of Christmas she is having in heaven.” Her race was finished.



I had one of those crystal clear visions. Not like those dreams you remember but quickly dismiss. It was one of those “God” dreams. I saw myself running down an aisle just as hard and fast as I could. At the end of the aisle were my mother and father; smiling, waving, clapping their hands as they cheered me on toward them.

As you might imagine, I felt very comforted and loved. On those days I feel discouraged; I hope to revisit this image in my head. We are never alone or forgotten. We are forever surrounded by a cloud of witnesses cheering us on.

Blessings and love for the New Year!

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. Hebrews 12: 1


NLT