The Mailbox
“Just make it to the next mailbox,” a dad would say
As he and his daughter were out running one day.
He, knowing another mailbox lay ahead,
as she was ready to call it quits,
would push her to persevere instead.
With every mailbox successfully passed
She made the victory lap to home at last.
To the day the message is still very clear…
Struggles will come and go, as the mailboxes came and went
But in the end, the prize will be held dear for the endurance that was spent.
“Just make it to the next mailbox,”
he would say.
What is your mailbox today?
I wrote this for my father years ago. We ran as a family when I was in the 9th grade. Mom and dad would encourage us to make to the next mailbox so we would make it home. 🙂
I will finish this post later. I wrote it once and lost it. I ended the other one with…
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28 NIV)
So I know losing the post was and is going to be okay…though I am not happy. 🙂 I will make it to the next one after dinner.
thenextmailboxboston 
You know, I’ve never heard that and I have often wondered what your blog title meant. That’s awesome. I will likely never get it out of my head when running a neighborhood route or street race. Thank you.
Hope things have been going well. Enjoy going back through your posts. I thought about your R-n-R posts the other day when I put one up on Perseverance!
As an update, I got an okay to lead a Run For God session next Spring, and even crazier, we are looking to team with the local Fleet Feet group (store manager is church member) to host a first annual Jeremiah 12:5 run for a local mission! A 12k and a 5k. To rise above and to run with horses! As an original encourager of the blog, I’ll send you a shirt next May!
Anyway, would covet prayers that we continue down a purposeful and God glorifying journey. Have a great weekend.
David
It dawned on me awhile back that I hadn’t shared the story. While I was at my parents I found a copy of the poem I had given my dad. I decided to post it. I am glad it is out there. 🙂 Things are going well despite the heat. It is preparing us for Mississippi.
I am thrilled to hear about your RFG study and the race! That will be an awesome experience. Good luck with all of the preparation and planning. I will keep y’all in my prayers. Keep encouraging others!
Trish