About 25 years ago I ran a marathon. It was on my bucket
list and after we moved to Houston with our new baby girl in 1999, I decided it
was time to check it off my list. I trained for about 5 months and my only goal
was to finish and run the whole time.
During the marathon, there were cheerleaders along the way –
strangers and family met me at different mile points and gave me lots of
encouragement. Hydration and refueling stations were strategically placed on
the course and even a beer station at mile 21.
There were also small stretches that felt really long when I
ran alone. I couldn’t see anyone in front of me nor behind me. I finished in
just over 5 hours and when I crossed the finish line I felt relief, pride, joy
and weakness. I was dehydrated and hungry but I couldn’t eat with feeling so
sick.
I’ve been a parent for almost 26 years now. It has felt much
like that marathon…lots of cheerleaders, hydrating and refueling stations, and
even some beer stops along the way. There have been times I felt very alone and
times when I didn’t feel like I had enough…enough love, energy, resources,
care, hope.
There’s no finish line in sight. But I am still moving
forward and I am not alone. Where are you in this race?
