Running the Race

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, ² fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. ³ Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. ~ Hebrews 12:1-3

In our house the race starts in the morning and doesn’t end until my head hits the pillow, even then it’s as if I’m racing to fit in as many minutes of precious sleep I can get.

We race around the house to get the kids dressed, lunches packed and out the door, and on the road just to race others around us to work.

We race through the day, race to pick up the kids and race through dinner, race the kids to bed, only to start the same race again the next day.

With all this racing I asked myself what was I racing towards? And what was I focusing on during this race?

I was and sometimes still am racing for the wrong thing; my focus can often be on worldly things rather than Jesus. When I fix my eyes on Him my race takes on a whole new meaning.

I realize that my race needs to be one of love; I need to reach my children with God’s word before the world whispers into their ears.

I realize that my race needs to be to show my husband the respect he can get nowhere else, because the workplace is racing to remove his focus from his family.

I realize that my race needs to be towards making my house a home, because the world is racing to open its arms to my family before I do.

Running my race as a working wife and mother of wonderful kids has its hills and valleys.  Hurdles can slow me down at times but it is the race that God has me called me to run.

Because my eyes are fixed on him,  I will not grow weary… I know that before I even began my race He carved out the path I would take.

Because I know that He ran a race I could never imagine having to run.

Let’s put on our running shoes, fix our eyes on Jesus and “let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us!”

Tonya Ellison is a working wife to a wonderful man and a mother to three amazing children. Writing has always been a passion of hers and despite how much “racing around”  she does, she wants to exercise the gift God has given her while keeping her eyes on God and following Him where He takes her.

photo credit

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