Life Is Not a Story About Me

Reflecting back to the finish of the NYC marathon last year, it is such a whirlwind of emotions. I was so grateful to be finished. To have crossed the finish line and be alive, to have so many friends and family thinking of me that day and to have Jesus alongside me. 

I truly felt His presence and knew that He wanted me to know how much He loved me and how much life's race was like a marathon.  Highs and lows. Long miles and quick miles. Happy or sad. Sick or feeling good. He would be with me. It was the most beautiful thing in the world. 

And I was really sad because I just wanted to run and be triumphant and kill the race. I wanted to do everything I had trained to do. It just didn't happen that way. I physically couldn't do it. I immediately started looking up races I could run to prove to myself how awesome I was at running. It was ridiculous. Matt encouraged me to slow down and take some time to let this race just rest within me. 

I've run since NYC. I've run a few 1/2 marathons and then I ran at the Inheritance of Hope 15k in Brevard at the end of April this year. It was absolutely beautiful. All the money from the race went to families (again) suffering from terminal illness and many of the families showed up. 

We started the race and I felt like my friend Amy Patwa was with me the whole race. She and I just got to talk about what it would be like to run in Heaven. And how it is now to run with Jesus here. And how hard but good it is to run life with eyes of faith and not by sight. And I just ran. And I ran through farm fields and by streams and I felt like I was floating. Turns out-I won! First female! 

It was amazing! I've never won a race before and that race and prayer time prompted a whole lot of other big moves in my life. 

I ended up leaving my job of 10 years later that month. And I've been trusting Jesus that He has big plans in my life and in others lives as we tell people about hope and the good things to come as you step out in faith. 

I know my life is not about me. My story is never going to be about me. Thank goodness. God has much bigger plans than that. I am really glad that He wants to use me in the lives of others though. 

And right now He has called me to run with Inheritance of Hope in the NYC Marathon this year and I'm so pumped to get to play a part in lives of families that are dealing with terminal illness. 

If you'd like to help, here is the link:

http://inheritanceofhope.org/sponsorpage.html?eventid=66&regid=2972&rowid=2972