NOTE: A few months ago I shared an article about my
friends, Melissa & Fletcher, and their marathon race to beat breast
cancer. At that time, I prayed that one
day soon I would write this follow-up article.
Praise God, now is the time! Scroll through the entries on the right to find Running A Marathon (Part 1.)
If you’ve ever run a marathon,
then you know how satisfying it is to cross the finish line regardless of your
place. In fact, most of us (by us, I
mean “me”) are simply thrilled to finish the race; the only competition is your
own previous record. Please don’t misunderstand here; I’ve never
run a marathon in my life so I have no basis for which to judge timing in that
regard. However, life is filled with
marathons – races that develop our integrity, courage, and faith in God. Those
are the races and finishing records of which I speak.
Around a year ago, Melissa
began what she thought would be a difficult, but short, sprint race when she
was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of breast cancer. Her race, like so many, involved hurdles to
jump along the way. The first being a lumpectomy. Then, just when she thought she was sprinting
over the finish line, blood tests returned with the news of the cancer
spreading throughout her body. Her sprint
turned into a full-force marathon riddled with hurdles of chemotherapy, extreme
financial struggles, and the loss of a job and some friends. All that was followed by anchor legs of
radiation.
On June 5th, she
crossed the finish line! That year-long
marathon was completed, not by breaking a ribbon, but by ringing a bell to
signify another woman’s race ending in victory.
It just so happens that it was also Melissa’s birthday! A
beautiful miracle wrapped up in divine packaging – a most precious birthday
gift from the One who gave her life to begin with.
While Melissa’s story ends with
such jubilation, it is the story of running the marathon that deserves the
emphasis here. Melissa is a devoted
woman of God married to an incredible man, Fletcher. Together, they set out on this marathon
facing the physical, emotional, spiritual, and financial hurdles as a team. His stalwart devotion to her, and her
unconditional loyalty and trust in him preserved every ounce of stamina they
would need to finish this race – arm-in-arm.
If you ask them, though, they would both unequivocally say that it was
God who put everything into place for them … God lifted them over each hurdle …
God poured out energy into their souls when they believed nothing was left …
God reigned miracles upon them just as their faith reached levels of nothing
more than a mustard seed. Through it
all, God was the coach and source of miraculous energy that guided them,
together, to run this race and end it in glorious fashion. It is His glory – Shekinah – that radiated
upon them on June 5th as Melissa rang that awesome bell signifying
the finish line.
Isaiah 40:29-31 (NIRV)
summarizes the faith that people like Melissa and Fletcher have to survive
life’s races. “He gives strength to
those who are tired. He gives power to those who
are weak. Even
young people become worn out and get tired. Even the best of them trip
and fall. But
those who trust in the Lord will receive new strength. They will fly as high as
eagles. They
will run and not get tired. They will walk and not grow weak.”
I pray that your life is
race-free, but God doesn’t promise that to any of us. Therefore, it my utmost prayer for all of us
that when life throws these marathons at us, we will whole-heartedly embrace
the endurance that God desperately wants to pour out upon us so that we will
find the full-force faith as Melissa and Fletcher have modeled through this
event. Then, you and I will live out
what Isaiah promises – “We will run and not get tired. We will walk and not grow weak.” For you see, with God as our coach and
driving force, we cannot be defeated.
Our time in the race may not be first-place, but we will cross the
finish line … and that’s what counts when you let God take control of
everything in your life.
Fletcher created a magnificent
video honoring the race he and Melissa forged together with God’s mercy leading
them each step of the way. With their
permission, I’m sharing the link to it with you. Regardless of your connections with cancer
and/or cancer survivors, this video will touch your heart!
Suddenly
(Seems so long) Mouse Whipp tribute:
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