And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us (Hebrews 12:1b)So tonight was family movie night, and we watched Secretariat. And let me tell you, it was such a great movie!! So inspiring and uplifting!! Since it is based on a true story, I will share some about it and not feel as though I am spoiling it for any of you that have not yet seen it.
It is the story of a housewife that inherits her father's slowly failing horse breeding farm. There are two sires about to give birth and her instinct leads her to believe that a particular one had the DNA to be special. The stud for the horse about to be born is one of the fastest, although he can't last very long. But the history of the mother shows that they could be the perfect combination! Sadly, all the experts would only focus on his father's limitation, and project that on to him. Yet, from the moment Big Red is born Peggy and those closest to the horse knew there was something different about him. And going against all odds, against her brother, her husband, sacrificing her time, and risking more than she even has, Peggy believes that this horse can do amazing things. She overcomes many odds and becomes the owner of a horse that wins a record breaking Triple Crown, something that hadn't been done in 25 years, and since him, no horse has come close to even touch his record. Secretariat still is considered the greatest race horse that ever lived. It was a hard road. With many obstacles to overcome. They had to believe in something they had never seen Big Red do, something they saw beyond what was visible. They had to overcome their own doubts, their nay sayers, and a loss that could've crushed their hope. But in the end it was all worth it!!
Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. (Hebrews 11:1)
As I watched this movie I was reminded of a couple of things. The last couple of weeks have been hard ones, with everyone sick, Naomi went from having two of the best weeks we've ever experienced with her in Jan, to having a REALLY rough couple of weeks up until this one. All in all, I have not been at a good place. One verse I always try to remind myself of at times like this is James 1:2-4 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.But the movie brought back some good lessons I have recently been taught.
On January 8th myself and 3 crazy and amazing friends of mine ran our first half marathon!! Something that if you had asked me last year if I would ever do in my life, I'd have peed my pants laughing at the fact that you'd even have such a thought!! I remember in high school, doing the mile fitness test in PE, and never getting better than 15 min. I was always one of the last ones in...I couldn't even walk the darn thing right!! And to think that after 4 kids and a C-section that I would venture to go on and do 13.1...yea, not happening!! Yet, I was able to!! I was very amazed at how when we train for something, when we set our minds to it, when we believe in it, we can indeed conquer it. It has to be something you truly believe in, you truly are willing to fight for, something you know is bigger than just yourself. My whole initial motivation for doing the race in the first place was Naomi. Learning of the many obstacles she faces each day, the many hills she'll have to climb and wanting to give myself a glimpse of what she must feel. To be overwhelmed with the thought that you are asking yourself to do something you have never done before!! But with each mile I added to my training, it was amazing what would happen. Yes there was pain, sweat, and some BioFreeze involved, but there was also a conquest, a victory! Knowing that if I could do that, than I can do more! Through out my training, and on race day, with my worship music on my iPod, God kept reminding that all I had to do was concentrate on the next step. On the next stride, and cross them off one mile at a time. In my life in generally I tend to try and be ahead of the curve, anticipate what will happen and not get caught by surprise. Problem is you can't be a step ahead of a God that always has been, is, and will always be! You can only take the next step.
So watching Secretariat reminded me of why we are running this race for Naomi. Why we are investing into certain things, that aren't a given, that may not have concrete proof. Why we are willing to take a risk, willing to give her shots every other day, try new creams and supplements, and not turn around. Yes, there are many that say it won't work, it's a shot in the dark, there is nothing we can do. But when I look at her, when I see into her eyes, when she shows us her heart, I know there is more!! Not all of what we are trying may work, it may not ever make her 'typical'. But I know that she will still be all that she was created to be!! And we will be able to look her in the eyes and say to her (which I know she understands) "we fought the good fight, we believed in you, we gave it out all, and it was worth it!!" The amazing thing about Secretariat, that is just as amazing about Naomi, and any one of us that believes that God has sent Jesus Christ to redeem us, is that we do NOT have to be defined by the limitations of our DNA. We do not have to quiet that which we know to be true about ourselves in our hearts, because of what we hear from those around us!! No, we are not limited by our earthly parents and their faults, because God himself becomes our Father, and sees within us all that others can't, and sometimes neither do we.
Secretariat reminded me that I don't have to have all the answers today, and I may even have to deal with some losses before the big win! All I have to do is keep those blinder's around my eyes, so I am focused on the track that God has layed before me. And run it knowing that He has equipped me to do it, that He believes I can do it, and that He has made a way so I can do it!! And then I just take it one horse length at a time, one mile at a time, one day (good or bad) at a time!!
