“Commitment is that which you keep doing long after the mood you said it in has passed.”
Author Unknown
The time had come, a year to date, and I was ready. Outside preparing for another run, Eva disappears into the house. Minutes later, she appears in her running shoes. She said, “Mommy, I am going to run this race with you!” It was thrilling that she wanted to run with me. Then it dawned on me, I would not be able to beat my time from last year. All runners like to push themselves for better times, but now I knew that would be out of the question.
It was the soft, familiar voice that politely interrupted my thoughts that brought clarity to the moment. I heard, “But you have already won.”
Last year, I was pregnant with Charlotte in the same race, and Eva watched with Daddy as I crossed the finish line. This year brought the opportunity to learn a new way of winning.
“On your march. Get set. Go!” I didn’t have the heart to tell her it was “Mark” not “March.” She said it every morning as we would start our run. It became my favorite part.
You can imagine how our “running” went each day. Learning to navigate the stroller and repositioning Charlotte’s pacifier became part of the running preparations. Eva would keep a good pace with me until she needed a break to chase Samson, which happened about every five minutes.
When race day arrived, Eva looked up with concern in her eyes. I told her it was ok. Stay close to mommy, and everything would be fine. She said, “But I want to win, Mommy.” I smiled down at her and Charlotte and then whispered in her ear, “We already have.”
We “ran” happily for about 200 meters, then our “run” quickly changed to a brisk walk as we strolled merrily along with some friends.
In the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City. John was a marathon runner from Tanzania who cramped up due to the city’s high altitude. At the 19-kilometer point during the 42-kilometer race, some runners were jockeying for position, and he got hit. He fell badly and dislocated his knee. He, however, continued running, finishing last out of fifty-seven who completed the race (seventy-five had started). The marathon winner, Mamo Wolde of Ethiopia, finished in 2:20:26. Akhwan finished in 3:25:27 when only a few thousand people left in the stadium, and the sun had set. A television crew was sent out from the medal ceremony when word came that one more runner was about to finish.
As John finally crossed the finish line, a cheer came from the small crowd. When asked by reporters why he continued running, he said, “My country did not send me 5,000 miles to start the race; they sent me 5,000 miles to finish the race.”
Akhwan won the gold medal that year in the Olympics, but John is remembered for finishing.
My time may have been slower as I crossed the finish line with my girls, but the investment was richer. Finish well friends. History is counting on us.
Welcome Home
“Watch out that you do not lose what we have worked so hard to achieve. Be diligent so that you receive your full reward.” 2 John 1:8
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