And you can imagine that this mama's heart was intensely nervous, intensely hopeful and every other crazy emotion a mama's heart goes through when they are watching their children perform....knowing that they are wanting it so badly, that you want them so badly to be victorious.
Based on his performances throughout the year, we knew it was not a lofty goal to finish in the top five.
The state track meet is crazy big. At least four hundred kids line up on the start line. The top fifty receive medals. The top ten are recognized on the podium.
So the gun went off and we waited on the sidelines, hopeful.
As the boys came up on the first mile mark, we noticed that Joshua did not have his usual race face on. My mama radar went up. Something was wrong.
I prayed and waited.
As they came back around from the back of the course, Joshua had noticeably dropped back. He looked white. I wondered if he would even be able to finish the race?
Joshua ended up getting 47th I believe. He stumbled through the shute (later he would tell us he almost blacked out), grasping his medal, he could barely walk.
We ran up to him immediately, knowing something was terribly wrong. We took him to the medical tent, finding out that he had a temperature. We figured out that a cold that he'd taken a few days earlier had turned into something more.
We found out later from him that he had known that morning that something was wrong. He could tell he wasn't feeling right.
I was in awe that day of a few things. One, was his determination to run anyway.
But, the other things that I was so amazed over had to do with two of his running buddies--Michael and Nathan--who ran too. They too had been contenders to finish in the top (Michael did in fact end up getting 5th, and Nathan in the top 10).
But their finishes are not what impressed me as much as their character.
When Nathan came upon Joshua in the race, he ran alongside him for awhile, offering up encouraging words to him. He realized something was wrong and he cared more about speaking into Joshua's life than running on by.
A few days after the meet, Joshua received a letter from Michael in the mail. It was full of encouragement. His mama did not ask him to write it. He did it on his own.
Tomorrow. Tomorrow is once again the state cross country meet. Once again, Joshua will face off against Michael and Nathan. These three boys went to Kindergarten together. They've got quite a history of friendship intertwined with running. Based on times and finishes from the year, these three (along with a few other boys across the state--one of them is in the pic below) should be the top contenders.
What will tomorrow's outcome be? Running is such a sport of unknowns. It's supposed to be cold, windy and rainy, adding some craziness to an already insane sport. One thing's for sure, this mama's heart is gonna need a pacemaker!
I am praying that these boys will: glorify God, will run their heart's out and will be satisfied that they showed up and gave it their all.
Don't even get me started on our other kids and their friends that are running tomorrow. Wes will be running against Ethan, Riggs, Stevie and Eli...to name a few. Sophie will be running against Catherine (who's got the best time in the state!), Carmen, Kaylyn, Ashlee and Avery. Jeremiah will run against Peter. And Julia will be running in the 5th/6th grade race.... And let's not forget Theo and Piper and the rest of the Y team in the open race! It's gonna be a full day of cheering on friends!
Oh, I'm sure I might have left someone out--didn't mean to, there's just so many great kids that we know that will be out there giving it their all tomorrow!
Runners--
May the Lord bless you and keep you.
May the Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you. May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you!
Numbers 6:24
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