Running…Day By Day

Drift with me back…
College years. Mankato State University.
Trying to get my physical education required credit completed.

I chose a class that included a workout program and running.
My grade depended on how many pounds and how many inches I lost.
{Good grief. What on earth was I thinking?}

Around and around the track I ran.
And as I ran (I use that word loosely here), my mantra was…

Day by day, and with each passing moment, strength I find to meet my trials here;
Trusting in my Father’s wise bestowment, I’ve no cause for worry or for fear.

{What I was hoping would be bestowed was one more breath and the ability to feel my legs again!}

Every day. Same track. Same song.
It’s the song that got me through it.

Flash forward 30 years to 2008…

I had signed up for my first 5K run.
My friend and YMCA trainer, Jody, got me ready to give it my best shot.

And once again, the mantra in my head was the same…
Day by day, and with each passing moment, strength I find to meet my trials here…

Jody tracked my time and I sang my song.
And I did it. Finished without dying.

{Jody ran it with me…bless her heart! I’m the one in the red shirt in the picture. Just in case you were wondering.}

Nine years later..
I still sing that song in my head when I’m walking/jogging/running.
AND…
It is frequently the song that I go to when real trials show up.

It’s so easy to just fret, fret, fret when tough times come, isn’t it?
We sit and stew and simmer and try and fix it all by our lonesome.

And while we’re stumbling around and living in a not-helpful anxious state,
God is saying, I’ve got what you need!
Ask me to run with you!  Let’s do this together!

Oh, my.
When I think about how much He loves me and how much He cares about my heart and my emotions and my good times and my tough places…
Why don’t I reach out to Him sooner? Before I get all worked up?

He promises to give me what I need Every. Single. Moment.
It’s a promise He keeps. Because God is faithful.

My running times and health have improved over the years.  {Yeah! High-five! Pat me on the back!}
And the time it takes me to call on The One Who Loves Me Most has gotten a whole lot faster.

God’s got us covered, Dear Friends!
Let’s remember to ask Him to run with us.

Would you like a little inspiration from me every day?

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Comments

  1. Okay, so I realize I have to change my mantra when I run. Yours is much more edifying. Mine is, “you’re not going to die…you’re not going to die…you’re not going to die…” The rhythm is right but your words are much better! 🙂 It also might explain a few things as a persevere through life! Thanks for your post, Gaye. I can certainly relate.

  2. Thank you for the inspiration! I always welcome a reminder to start my day with asking the Lord to lead and guide me every step of the way, I just find myself grabbing back some of my concerns instead of leaving them with Him and ‘abiding in His strength’.

You are Extraordinarily Significant!