The Gift of Athleticism

As I sit today and enjoy the beautiful sunshine and spring temperatures, I am so thankful for the gift of athleticism. In reflection regarding the busy weekend that is so quickly approaching, I have realized that God has given our family such a wonderful gift. We all are involved this weekend in something athletic. This means that God has allowed each of us to be physically active and strong.

Dalton is participating in the Final Mile on Saturday. This means that he has logged 25 miles (or 30 in his case) through running in PE class at school. The final mile is a culmination of months of work to finish up a marathon distance. This type of exercise requires stamina and determination. I am so proud of Dalton's efforts and am excited to see him cross the finish line on Saturday knowing that he was able to reach a goal that he has been working towards since September.

Landon is participating in the Middle School Wrestling Championships in Virginia Beach on Saturday. Most likely, he will be the number 1 seed in his weight class for the northern part of the city. He is 8 and 0 for this wrestling season. This has not come easily, but is also the result of months of workouts, practices, running, lifting and discipline. Whatever the outcome of this event for Landon, we are so proud of him and everything that he has accomplished during his 8th grade year of wrestling. Dan will be coaching Landon and his wrestling teammates with knowledge and expertise that will serve all of the wrestlers so well. This coaching is a love of my husbands and stems from the fact that he has been blessed with athleticism in his life as well.

I am running the Shamrock 1/2 marathon on Sunday. This race is the celebration of months of training in the cold, along with strong runs and runs that didn't always feel so great. My body has been through a lot, but I am looking forward to a beautiful day and also completing a goal that has been part of my life for weeks.

All of this to say, being physically active and strong is not something that everyone can say that they posess. I am forever thankful and grateful for this gift that God has given to each person in our family. It is a gift that binds us together and sets us apart. It binds us as a family to cheer for each other in our individual events and share in the excitement of winning and the bittersweetness of defeat. It sets us apart because our Creator differentiated enough to give each of us a specific athletic ability to excel in.

Win or lose this weekend, setting records or not.....to God be the glory for the strength, agility and athleticism to complete the goal that He has set in front of each of us.

Hebrews 10:35 So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised.