We've recently become a family of runners. This week we decided to get some "hill training" in. We thought and thought about what was the biggest possible hill in our area. Pine Lake has some big ones. Even the road by our house has some huge ones. Hills are not exactly hard to find in Iowa. But finally we thought of the perfect one! It was at Sac and Fox Overlook, a beautiful wildlife area. This has a gargantuan hill. The picture below doesn't even show the steep part!
In the winter, we often go sledding at this spectacular place, and it seemed just perfect for running up to get a good workout.
One of my siblings wasn't even interested in going, though. And my sister, Bethany, ( http://todaylibertyordeath.blogspot.com) just brought along her camera to take pictures. But the rest of us bravely walked down the hill to the starting line. And then "Go!" We all took off. The first part went well. But then, the last 50 feet were the steepest--and I mean it was really steep. I trudged on, running as fast as I could, considering the circumstances. I was exhausted. I felt like just collapsing as I crossed the finish line.
But we all made it! And then we felt wonderful. We had done it! (We actually ended up doing it six more times--but I will confess, I walked some.) After it was all over we walked to our van with a feeling of satisfaction.
Sometimes life is like that. We sometimes face giant hills in front of us that just seem impossible to go up. But if we will just trust in Jesus and never give up, at last we will be conquerors. The big hills--both for a runner, and in each of our lives--will help us to grow stronger and stronger. In the end when we cross the finish line, we'll know it was worth it all!
One of my siblings wasn't even interested in going, though. And my sister, Bethany, ( http://todaylibertyordeath.blogspot.com) just brought along her camera to take pictures. But the rest of us bravely walked down the hill to the starting line. And then "Go!" We all took off. The first part went well. But then, the last 50 feet were the steepest--and I mean it was really steep. I trudged on, running as fast as I could, considering the circumstances. I was exhausted. I felt like just collapsing as I crossed the finish line.
But we all made it! And then we felt wonderful. We had done it! (We actually ended up doing it six more times--but I will confess, I walked some.) After it was all over we walked to our van with a feeling of satisfaction.
Sometimes life is like that. We sometimes face giant hills in front of us that just seem impossible to go up. But if we will just trust in Jesus and never give up, at last we will be conquerors. The big hills--both for a runner, and in each of our lives--will help us to grow stronger and stronger. In the end when we cross the finish line, we'll know it was worth it all!