#BetterTogether

When I was a little girl, I wanted to reach the top of our toy shelf in the basement. No one was downstairs to help me and I was too impatient to wait for a response. I took it upon myself to stand on top of the back rest portion of a desk chair and stretch to reach what I wanted. In just an instant, the chair flipped, I landed on it, and found myself crying for my mom’s help as I bled. There began my fear of falling.

In 2017, we took the kids to Disney World over spring break. We had fast passes for a ride named “Expedition Everest.” As we walked around waiting for our arrival time to come, I decided it would help me to read about the roller coaster so I’d know what to expect. Mistake. BIG mistake.

I read something like “the tower was taken off the top of the coaster because of its interference with the airspace” and “the track appears to be broken in mid-air before you shift to another track to go backwards.” Cue the anxiety. Sweaty palms. Hurting stomach. I needed a way out. However, I sincerely tried not to pass my fear of falling (which most people love in relation to roller coasters) on to the kids. Our daughter, who was 10 at the time, said there was only ONE WAY she would ride the roller coaster…..if I was sitting right beside her. I rode it. I screamed. It was a great coaster and I have ridden it again. The interesting thing is that I would have never, ever ridden that had it not been for her. The courage of a ten year-old was necessary to help her mama conquer a lifelong fear.

Friend, you CAN do hard things. Often times, you will ONLY do them with the support and presence of another.

This past Saturday, I participated in a half-marathon. About 8 years ago, this was a bucket-list item. After some setbacks and some health issues, I “surrendered” that item and settled for 5ks. Until November of 2022.

I was getting ready for work one morning when I got a call from a school principal. One of their faculty members – a former co-worker of mine – unexpectedly and tragically passed away the night before. Jennifer was less than a year older than me. It hit hard. At her celebration of life service, the slideshow remembering her life had picture after picture of her running, of her crossing finish lines with her sisters. Her life and one of her passions – that I don’t even know about until she was gone – inspired me to sign up. Had she been here, Jennifer probably would have run the half-marathon. Since she couldn’t be here, I wanted to run it for her. Shortly after the service, I submitted my registration. #JoggingForJennifer

We had a lot of cold and wet weather here. I made a lot of excuses. I didn’t train enough. But I made a commitment to do this for my friend and I had the bonus blessing of having another friend sign up to run with me. The one difference? Gwen IS a runner. She has slayed several half-marathons this year alone. I told her she could run ahead and wait on me at the finish line. Her response? “Absolutely not. We will do this TOGETHER.”

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 says, “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”

My lack of training could have easily kept me at home. Getting in my own head about my speed could have sidelined me.

However, Jennifer inspired me to start and Gwen said she’d be by my side the whole time through the finish. These friends helped me accomplish something very hard, but something that was much less hard because I wasn’t alone.

Jennifer, thank you for being such a kind-hearted person who never let anyone go unnoticed. Thank you for never losing your zeal for teaching science to high school students. Thank you for loving your family like you did. There are so many people who are looking forward to Heaven to be able to see you again.

Gwen, thank you for helping me accomplish something I had tucked away several years ago. Your presence and your encouragement helped me cross that finish line. Thank you for slowing your pace to include a lot of walking….just to help me finish.

Friend, you can do hard things.

Invite someone into the story. and be the inspiration for someone else’s.

We are truly #BetterTogether.

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