Philippians 4:13-14 “I can do all this through Him who gives me strength. Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles.”

Our persuasive son somehow convinced the family to run the half-marathon. Truthfully, my “running resume” boasted only a jog to the mailbox and back but my mother-heart soared at the thought of family bonding. So, the training began.

A week in, my husband was sidelined with an injury and joining him on the couch sounded oh, so sweet. If not for the encouragement of my son, that is exactly where you would have found me.

On race day, four of us stood in the rain awaiting the air-horn start. A quick survey of the crowd, all dressed in professional running attire, left me feeling underqualified as I stood shivering in my church-camp t-shirt. When the gates opened, my children were quickly out of sight, leaving 13.1 miles of solidarity between me and the finish line. Gratefully, “wogging,” (my made-up word for walking and jogging) sustained me until mile eleven, at which point I was officially over it!

Then, out of nowhere a woman shuffled up beside me and said, “I can’t make the finish line alone. Might we ‘run’ together and encourage each other?” We chuckled at her optimism of referring to what we were doing as “running,” when we realized from all sides we were being passed by walkers. Our laughter was the shot of adrenaline needed.

Encouragement received can come from the most unlikely of sources at the most opportune moments. The same should be said of encouragement extended. Our path may place us in the company of strangers needing a kind word, a smile, a pat on the back, or a scripture of hope. Life may be more difficult than imagined. The journey may seem impossible. The finish line may be afar. But our earthly race to an eternity with a Father whose love knows no bounds, is not to be run alone.

Philippians 4:13, one of Paul’s most quoted verses, tells us all things can be done through the strength of Christ. Often, we stop reading right there and miss what Paul says next: “Yet, it was good of you to share in my troubles.” Yes, even Paul, a mighty proclaimer of the Gospel, needed encouragement.

On that race day, two unlikely women completed their first, and most likely, only half-marathon. The finish-line photo bears the image of me, arms raised, hand in hand with a perfect stranger whose name I do not know. That medal was not mine alone, for without my son I would never have taken the first step, and without a stranger, I would never have taken the final one.

While we persevere to do all things through Christ and His strength, may we receive great joy in the journey as we lighten each other’s loads and together finish strong.

Father God, open our eyes to ways we can give and receive encouragement.

Blessings,

Rita Cochrane