The Finish Line

Last weekend I had the awesome opportunity to participate in a 40 mile relay race!

It started at the Rexburg Idaho temple, to the Idaho Falls temple.

The sun was shining so brightly we had to squint. The heat beat down on us and we are pretty sure a lot of us got sun stroke. We tried not to drink TOO much water in fear that we'd have to urinate during our leg of the race. We cheered and cheered and cheered each other on. It was a long day.

It was, also, hands down the funnest thing I have done this semester!

I ran the last stretch of the relay. Due to the course and distance I ran, my team could not really find an area to cheer me on during the leg I ran. I told them to just meet me at the temple (the finish line).

Like I mentioned before, it was hot. As I was running, a part of me wished I could just walk it, but I could not let the team down. At one point, I was feeling discouraged. Not because I could not do it, but because the course seemed endless. I could not see the temple and I felt that I was running a longer distance than indicated.  I felt that if I just saw my team, if I could just hear them cheer me on, I would be better motivated.

Right then a thought popped into my mind.

"Sometimes you have to hard things on your own."

I knew this was true, but it did not make it any less harder. 

Then another thought came: 

"Just because you are doing this on your own now, does not mean there is not someone there waiting for you. Just because you can't hear them, or see them

does not mean they are not cheering you on."

Sometimes, our trials seem endless. Sometimes, you cannot see those around you cheering you on to push yourself, to keep going, to be victorious. That does not mean they are not there doing those things you hope they'd do. 

I finally saw my team and a jolt of adrenaline went through my body. I had done it and I was going to finish strong because they were my prize. Seeing them smiling and cheering with arms in the air, I felt unstoppable. 

I started sprinting and then to my surprise, they joined with me. We were going to finish this race together.

We crossed the finish line sweating, panting, and smiling. 

We had done it. Together.

Heavenly Father blesses us with angels in our lives. Sometimes we can't see them, or hear them cheering us on, but they are there. Heavenly Father will not leave us alone, or without help. 

Although we have to fight some battles on our own for a little bit, that does not indicate that there is no one there cheering us on or waiting at the end of the finish line with open arms. 

Shay