Run YOUR Race
“...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, fixing our eyes on Jesus...” Hebrews 12:1 NIV
I love Track. LOVE IT! I love watching it, running it, even just looking at it. Maybe it’s nostalgia from growing up, but whatever it is, it brings me joy.
I was thinking about this recently and it occurred to me that life is a bit like running track. Ready, set, off we go to be the best version of ourselves, but somewhere along the way we get side-tracked. Somewhere along the way, the hurdles seem to get closer and closer together until we're completely tripped up. Everywhere we look, we see people running their best race and it feels like we're just falling further and further behind.
Racing to be the best version of ourselves (mom, wife, boss, partner) can accidentally turn into a race against everyone else, even our most cherished friends or family. Suddenly we're competing against thousands of people, only to realize our race is completely different than theirs. Take me for example, I’m a sprinter. Give me a 100m race and I’m a happy girl. But, that’s about all I’ve got. I can pump out a 200m if I have to, but it’s not going to be pretty, nor is anyone going to benefit from it. And whatever you do, don’t put me with the Cross Country girls! This girl doesn’t have that kind of stamina! I’m made for short bursts and then I'ma need a minute. Lol!
In the race of life, thousands of women have gone before us, and thousands will come after. Some of us are still tying our shoes, while others have already received their medal. Does it make us less than if we are the one bringing up the rear? Nope! Does it mean we are weak, busted or broken if we are the one still tying our shoes? No! For all we know, our real race hasn’t even started yet. Everything so far has just been practice. We can’t compare our race or our life to those around us, because everyone’s Start and Finish lines are different.
We’ve got to give ourselves grace here and extend some to our fellow females as well. Shaming one another or ourselves doesn’t help any of us. Let’s be the women who lace up our shoes, run the race we’ve been given, and offer a hand up for others along the way too. Cause let's be honest, we wish someone would have done it for us.