Fruit Inspection

Remember back in May when I ran my first 5k? I felt so great when it was over I looked forward to doing it again. Our church hosts a 5k/Fun Run each September to support missions. I made a mental note to begin training in August and participate in the 5k.

My training started out well, then pooped out. Each time I’d get on the treadmill, Savannah excitedly asked to try it too. At one point, she was on it more frequently than I was!

She started begging me to let her run too. And as September 19th got closer, it was obvious that I wasn’t going to be ready to run 3.2 miles, but she and I could run the 1 mile Fun Run together.

She had some hesitation leading up to race day, but by the time 7 a.m. rolled around this morning, she was up and dressed in no time. We headed to the church wondering what the weather was going to do, since it’s been raining here for 3 straight days!

In case you can’t tell from the picture, that’s NOT sweat! It started raining just as the runner’s took their mark and settled into a steady down pour for the entire 15 minutes and 14 seconds that we ran.

Savannah didn’t hide her feelings about how much she hated that rain, but she never gave up. We’d run together at times, holding hands, and then she’d see a friend of hers and dart on ahead of me.

And isn’t that just like a daughter? Needing her mom’s support one minute and taking off independently the next? Only to come back around to the one who will always be there for her?

My prayer is that she knows life is no different than this race was today. I will always, ALWAYS be there for her. Encouarging her, supporting her efforts, and gently pushing her when she’s ready to give up. She set today’s pace and all I did was guide. I wonder if I did that more in motherhood, if I’d enjoy it as much as I did running with her?

You know, stop trying to control everything and lead the way. Just be her guide to life.