Finish Strong

Do you feel it?  Can you see it?  Do you smell it? Can you taste it?

Summer.  I know you can feel the warmer weather, see the sun staying out later, smell the freshly cut grass and the other smells of summer.  You can taste the ice cold lemonade and ice cream that always tastes better during the hot months of the year.  People, summer is upon us!  Who’s excited?!?

Typically, I am not this excited for summer, because I really do not get a “summer” anymore.  When you grow up and get a “big girl” job, you have to go to work no matter what season it is! :(  However, this summer is different!  Yes, I will have to work through the summer instead of traveling, staying out late, and spending my days by the pool, but I am still super excited.  Why you ask?  Simply because the beginning of this summer marks my ending of school… for the rest of my life! I know that some of you may be experiencing the same thing.  When I graduated from high school I thought that was the best summer EVER.  I never had to go back to high school, however, when fall came around I had to go to college.  A few years later, I thought the summer after I graduated from college was the best summer EVER, however, a few months later I started graduate school.  Now I find myself here, nine days from graduation.  This will definitely be the BEST SUMMER EVER! 

For 21 years of my life (yes 21 of almost 26 years that I have been on this earth) I have been in school.  Yeah, it makes my head spin, too, when I think about it!  Anyway, for 21 years I have been running the race of school.  I marathoned my way through elementary, middle and high school and did a quick sprint through college. Then I brought it back down to a slow pace to complete graduate school.  Finally, I can see the finish line in sight.  I am almost ready to throw my hands up, however, I must keep running.  I have to keep my eyes on the prize.  

A friend sent me a daily devotion the other day written by Max Lucado and it was very fitting.  May it speak to you as much as it spoke to me…

“The Lord said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.  2 Corinthians 12:9

Derek Redmond was favored to win the 400 meter race in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.  Halfway into his semi-final heat, he suffered a torn hamstring.  Even as the medical team was approaching, he pushed away to finish the race.  A big man pushed through the crowd.

Redmond finishing the race with help from his dad.“You don’t have to do this,” he told his weeping son.
“Yes, I do.”  Derek declared.
“Well, then,” he said, “we’re going to finish this together.”

And they did!  His dad wrapped Derek’s arm around his shoulder and helped him hobble to the finish line.  What made him do it?  His son was hurt so the father came to help him finish. 

God does the same. Our attempts may be feeble.  Our prayers may seem awkward.  But And He comes to help us finish the race!”

Whatever race you are running, finish and finish strong.  Keep your eyes on Him and run like never before.  He is there each step of the way, helping you along and cheering loud.  When we are weak, He is strong…