Image by Tojosan via Flickr
Dear Trish:
Thank you for submitting your application for entry into the 2012 Boston Marathon. Regrettably, we are unable to accept your application due to field size limitations and the large number of applications we received from qualified runners.
|
Entries from applicants in your age group were accepted through and including the time 3:48:46. (13 seconds shy…13 seconds!)
So…that is where we are…13 seconds shy of running the 2012 Marathon with the “qualified” group. In preparation for this day I start collecting scriptures and one quote that I knew would encourage and comfort at the same time…here they are:
Don’t count the steps ahead; just add up the total of steps already covered, and multiply it by faith, confidence, and endurance. Always remember that for those who persist, today’s dreams are transformed into tomorrow’s successes.”~ Kelly D. Caron
Pslam 66.19-20
19 but God has surely listened
and heard my voice in prayer.
20 Praise be to God,
who has not rejected my prayer
or withheld his love from me!
John 15.7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.
Hebrews11.6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
Psalm 62
5 Find rest, O my soul, in God alone;
my hope comes from him.
6 He alone is my rock and my salvation;
he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
7 My salvation and my honor depend on God;
he is my mighty rock, my refuge.
8 Trust in him at all times, O people;
pour out your hearts to him,
for God is our refuge.
During the day today, I was struggling. I text some of my family and friends and asked them to pray for peace. Yoli…my tried and true running buddy, called me back and said, “Can we pray?” She prayed the sweetest prayer. She spoke the words I could not. She asked for His will to be done…and let Him know our desires. But she ended by praying His glory being shown in all of this. You all know this has been my prayer all along. Then my sister, Lisa text me the following scripture:
John 11:40 Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?”
At this time I also put in my headphones to try to process peace with some Christian music. I currently had the station on Easy Listening. But to my surprise, the Lord had His song on the Easy Listening station for me…I Surrender All – God put this song on that station at the very moment I needed it!!!!
He was orchestrating peace through far away prayer by many of you, direct prayer by Yoli, scripture sent by my sister and then His song on the radio. I was listening!
This all prepared me for the above email. The one that says we appreciate your effort but you missed it by 13 seconds. But did I? NO! I qualified. And as Hebrews 12.1 states…
Hebrews 12
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,
That race is the 2012 Boston Marathon…so as of right now, I am researching and applying to run for a charity. How incredible would it be to run as a qualifier…AND to run to help others in a way I would not running solo? My husband is fired up. After being disappointed with me and for me he realized we could do this. We could still run and do it for others!!! My goal is to apply to be part of the Alzheimer’s Association charity team. Being that Tennessee is God’s chosen home for me…and that Pat Summit is the new face for this disease, she would be the drive behind this effort. She is a lady of integrity who has not given up…she is the face for perseverance. My grandmother also suffered from dementia. This disease is close to many close to all of us.
This is also being done for my incredible nephew, Connor. I have learned so much from him in regards to giving. Connor and his family have benefitted from the Ronald McDonald House Charity during his battle with Aplastic Anemia. He is collecting tab tops to raise funds for the RMH charity. (If this was a chosen charity for Boston, I would be all over it…but unfortunately, it is not.) He is teaching all of us what it means to give selflessly even in the midst of struggles. Connor, you make us proud to know you and to be able to call you family. You and your family have taught all of us the meaning of the following scripture:
Matthew 5:14-16
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. “Nor do men light a lamp, and put it under the peck-measure, but on the lampstand; and it gives light to all who are in the house. “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”
Stay tuned for this update…if this is not what God has planned…then I will keep moving forward and praying for His will in regards to my running. Let’s continue to…not count the steps ahead; just add up the total of steps already covered, and multiply it by faith, confidence, and endurance. Always remember that for those who persist, today’s dreams are transformed into tomorrow’s successes.”~ Kelly D. Caron
Blessings have been numerous throughout this process. Friendships have been formed. Prayers have answered. Spiritual growth has been present. Goals have been met. This is just the start of the journey to the next mailbox….
thenextmailboxboston 