Last May I ran my first ever 5K. I will NEVER forget it!
I ran the Susan G. Komen in memory of Serenity Dixon. Serenity fought SO beautifully and gracefully. She had SUCH poise, love, and JOY...even to the end.
After finishing this race, in just under 39 minutes, I did a HUGE self-inventory...at least on my athletic ability. I came to this conclusion:
If I can push and coach Lilah to learn to walk... I can push myself to run something longer and bigger. In June my friend, Melissa, asked me(before she moved away) if I would like to run the Disney Princess Half Marathon with her, at Epcot, in February. I said, " I JUST ran my first 5K, there is NO way I can do 13.1 miles." She said, "Start training now."
I did a GUT check.
Katie, you CAN do this.
I said to myself, "Everyday you ask Lilah to work hard, push herself, and do things that many said she would never do, or do next year...so, why can't you do this?"
Those words...were NOT my words.
Those words were the encouraging words from Jesus. Yep. HE said, "YOU can."
So, I paid the money(because I knew if I put the money down...I would NOT turn back) and began slowly running more and more and more.
I now can run a 5K in 30.25 minutes. WOOHOO. That is over 8 minutes FASTER than in May.
You see, running is not just my way to get in better shape and take care of myself. Running is my time, first thing in the morning. I'm talking...I wake up at 5:30 AM and get out the door by 6 to run before my family wakes up. It is my time to pray. It is my way to tell God every fear, hurt, pain, and ask HIM to take it away. It is my time to give it up to HIM. It is my time to ask HIM for forgiveness and ask HIM to give me strength to do what I do each day. It is my time to PRAISE HIM for the MIRACLE he has done in Lilah's life. In Aaron's salvation.
With each step I take, with each mile I run, with each passing minute... I think of LILAH.
I see this face in my mind and I keep going. I see how hard she works. I remember the tears. I mean the BIG, FAT, rain drop-size tears, that she has shed during PT, OT, and practice at home and I think....
If she can...so can I.
Thank you God for placing Lilah in my care.
Not only is she changing others...she's changing me.
Man, God is SOOOO good. HE knows just when to intervene and bring you to your knees to make a change for the better in your life.
I love my God, and I love my Lilah!
(oh, and I inspired my friend Mandy B. to run it with me too. Isn't God awesome?!!)