Encouragement

The goal of encouraging has nothing to do with the consequences to ourselves.

Two of my kids run cross country. Before I had kids run cross country I assumed it was even less exciting to watch than it sounds. Seriously, I’m running for two reasons; if someone is chasing me or if there’s still some dessert left.

As a parent I now drive hours on a school night so I can watch my kids run for about fifteen minutes. The upside is we get takeout after. At least one of us has earned it.

Middle school cross country is basically watching people run, wondering if they will one day be faster. I also wonder which of the of the middle schoolers did something really awful that caused their parents to force them to run.

The Benefit of Cross Country

Here's what cross country has a greater amount than any other sport; encouragement. By everyone. For everyone. My kid. Your kid. First place. Last place. The real last place when you didn’t realize some kid was still running the race.

There’s no yelling at refs. There’s no crying of foul. There’s just your kid and the clock. “Run hard. Keep going. Finish strong.”

Even the opposing teams encourage one another. “Great job!” 

At a recent race, I yelled and encouraged and watched my daughter run.  I kept time for her and asked her how she felt. She admitted it wasn’t a great race. But she ran hard.

Here Comes the Encouragement

A runner from another team came up to her and asked my daughter if she was the one who had encouraged her mid-race. My daughter affirmed that she was. After the other runner walked away, my daughter amazed me once again.

She told me she came across this particular runner. She was on the ground and crying. “Get up. You can do this. Just stay with me.”  The other runner got up and sprinted ahead until she was far ahead of my daughter.

It wasn’t too long before my young encourager came upon the same runner. Again. “Get up. You can finish.” The other girl once again got up, and sprinted ahead to the finish.

Ahead of my daughter. Probably by half a minute or more.

She thanked my daughter and walked away. I’ve never enjoyed watching cross country so much.

You Can Finish Writing This Blog

I'm telling you there is a lesson here for the Church. And it's not even difficult to figure out. You could finish writing this blog by yourself. 

But you're going to make me write it, aren't you? That's fine, because that's why I'm here.

The life of a Christian is more of a long-distance race than it is a sprint. There are lots of other runners, and honestly, the prize that awaits me is the prize that awaits you. 

There is no benefit to me if I mature faster than you. But there is great benefit to all of us if I slow down enough in my race, to encourage you along and invite you to run with me. 

Even if it means you sprint ahead for a period. 

Sometimes life is as interesting to watch as a cross country meet. Oftentimes you will have many other things you'd rather do, like watch paint dry. 

But if we allow ourselves the opportunity to jump in, cheer someone on, and encourage them to do their best, we just might find ourselves enjoying the race a whole lot more.