Run, Sarah, Run!

It was far more than a family effort. I mean there were thousands of families represented there. It was the Race for Hope, Washington, DC on May 1st and in particular "Terry's High Hurdlers" that caught my attention.

You see, my daughter-in-law, Sarah, ran in the 5K race.

My son, Keith, had the winning design for the official race t-shirt. He's a graphic artist and photographer.

She ran for Uncle Terry who died from brain cancer and her grandmother who recently passed.

Sarah represents a strong family with roots deep in faith, family values and love.

She is my son's best friend and a brilliant light in my life.

Sarah had never run a race before. She had participated in fund raising efforts and walked the good walk like many of us do. But this was both a physical and mental challenge for her.

It was one of those things you must do, cannot fail, but doubt your abilities immediately after making the commitment.

I spoke to her about how proud I was of her. I texted her encouraging words before the run and waited for some exciting news the day of the event.

"I finished!!!! I ran the whole thing!!!!! I am sooo very happy right now. :-)" she texted me afterwards.

I was excited for her. I wanted her to succeed.

I learned afterwards that "Terry's High Hurdlers" raised More than $5,361.00 for research in memory of Terry, a wonderful father, husband, brother, uncle, friend and man of faith.

Later I had the chance to speak with Sarah. I could still hear the excitement in her voice.

It was in the final few moments of this conversation when I really felt connected to what she had been through.

She was describing what the race was like.

Marianne and I participate in Susan G. Komen's Race for the Cure every year. We walk. Slowly. So, I had no idea what it was like to complete the run.

"There were moments when I thought I couldn't make it," she said.

"I felt like my legs were going to give out. At the half way mark they offer water to you and I could hardly take a sip," she continued.

It was her final comment that really caught my attention.

She said, "At times during the race there were moments of almost complete silence. All you could hear were the sounds of your feet hitting the pavement. Periodically music sounds from a runner's iPod would fade in and out. After awhile clusters of runners gathered in the same spot and the sounds of feet hitting the pavement sounded like rain...water slapping against the ground."

It reminded me of an experience I had years ago while attending a conference. The speaker used us, the audience to make the sound of rain.

Of course, the image that I held in my mind while speaking with Sarah, was different. Those sounds for her, in those moments of doubt and the view of the approaching finish line were more like Uncle Terry and Grandmother urging all of Heaven to help her cross the line, complete her task. They began clapping and the sound of rain washed away her doubt.

"Run, Sarah, run!"

Just like God does for you when you think you can't, when you want to stop trying, when you feel that stopping would feel so much better than finishing.

You hear the sound of rain and all of Heaven is clapping . . .

"Run  ___(your name)___,  Run!"

"I wish you enough!"
J
~ Bob Perks ~

Good news - Bob Perks' first book, "I Wish You Enough," Embracing Life's Most Valuable Moments... is now available for ordering. Here's the "Link" to get your copy of Bob's book: I Wish You Enough from Amazon.com.

[ by: Bob Perks Copyright © 2011 (2believe@comcast.net) -- {used with permission} ]