Finishing well matters
How my daughter's hurdle race inspires me to keep going
Welcome to my table, sweet friend! I send out this weekly Glorygram as an invitation for you to pull up a chair and linger with me at the table. I’m serving up a bowl of my Tomato-Basil Bisque - the perfect main dish for a Spring/Summer lunch paired with a slice of sourdough and a salad or served as a first course. Join me for a feast on the glory of God!
She knelt down, extended her legs into the starting blocks and waited for the sound of the gun. With the loud crack that echoed across the track, she leapt forward and began the race. I watched my girl as she sprinted to the first hurdle and grazed over it like I taught her.
She gained momentum around the curve, taking on hurdle after hurdle, and then made it to the final straightaway. As the other hurdlers were slowing down, my daughter began to lock in. She swung her arms, gained speed and cleared the final hurdle. Racing for the finish line, she ended up beating her opponents by several strides to take first place.
Her grandparents, teammates, dad and I went wild in the stands. I believe there was a cloud of witnesses cheering from heaven too.
My husband Shawn and I coach the Track & Field team at the high school in California, where my daughter attends. On Friday night, 16 of our athletes were invited to the Division IV Championships for the Central Section. Our middle daughter qualified to run the 300-meter hurdle race.
Watching her take on that race with such energy and determination truly delighted my mama and coach heart. This felt like a full circle moment as I saw my daughter in the very event I competed in when I was in high school, the race that captured my heart and I have coached athletes to run for 20-plus years.
As I watched her run through the finish for the Division Champion title with a time of 48.78 seconds, I couldn’t help but think about how finishing well matters.
There were two other hurdlers who went into the race with faster record times, but my daughter finished the race on top. She did not give up. She did not allow the idea that others were faster or better hold her back. She did not allow herself to coast. She did not allow the hurdles to deter her. She ran all out for those 300 meters, and that made all the difference.
Not only did she get to take home the first place medal, she also qualified for the Masters Championship next Saturday with all the other division winners in our Central California section.
Needless to say, I’m proud of her. But even more, I’m learning from her example and determination. She has her sights set on breaking the school record in the hurdles and possibly running in college one day. I know this is only the beginning for her. She will exceed anything I ever achieved in Track & Field if she keeps showing up like this.
Friends, finishing well matters.
When we focus on sprinting through the finish rather than avoiding life’s hurdles, we can run faster and more efficiently for His glory.
Years ago I had the weighty assignment of choosing what to have engraved on my late husband’s headstone. My mother-in-law and I spent some time deciding what his headstone should communicate. We settled on including his name, his birth date and death date with a cross between, and the poignant words of 2 Timothy 4:7: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”
In so many ways, Ericlee embodied this final charge that Paul gives to his mentee Timothy. The apostle Paul declares in his letter to Timothy, “I have fought the good fight.” In other words, Paul remained a faithful soldier to God and a defender of the gospel message, despite opposition and persecution. Paul urged Timothy, whom he regarded as a co-laborer and son, to keep on fighting in the same manner.
Paul had to battle for his life and ministry. His second letter to the Corinthian church reveals some of what he experienced in his lifetime. He was imprisoned, flogged, beaten with rods, stoned, shipwrecked, chased by bandits, criticized, hungry, and homeless at different points in his ministry (2 Corinthians 11:23–28).
Paul goes on to write: “I have finished the race.” He likens life to a race. This running imagery is peppered throughout his letters. Paul is a disciplined athlete who has trained his body for the course of the Christian life. This statement suggests that Paul is expecting to die soon. He is preparing his protégé, Timothy, for that possibility, while encouraging Timothy to keep his eyes on the finish line and the heavenly prize.
Paul concludes, “I have kept the faith.” Paul has been a good steward of what God has entrusted to him. He stays faithful to the truth— never embracing false teaching or veering off from his call to carry the gospel to the Jews and Gentiles.
Paul was a man who ran toward God and godliness. This section of his letter to Timothy is like his “final instructions.” He’s ready to pass the baton. Paul fixes his eyes on the future:
“Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day— and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing” (2 Timothy 4:8).
Paul is sprinting down the lane the way the athletes did in the Greek games. The winners were awarded a laurel crown. Paul anticipates an eternal crown of righteousness awarded to all those who finish well in the race called life.
Our world and culture so often emphasize living in the present rather than looking to the eternal. Many believe Jesus was thirty-three when he died. My husband Ericlee died at age 40. Scholars say Paul died in his sixties. We simply do not know how long or short our races will be. Each life is like a tiny blip on the timeline of eternity.
At this time of year, many of us are finishing. We are finishing projects, finishing sports seasons, finishing the school year with our kids, or perhaps finishing our degrees and anticipating graduation.
Friend, in light of all of this, I urge you to fight the good fight, to run your best race today, and to live the faith with passion until you cross that final finish line!
Pray this prayer with me:
Dear Jesus, Help me to run with endurance in my race today. Show me how to fix my eyes on you and keep eternity in mind. Give me strength to finish well. Thank you for running the race to the cross and for modeling what it looks like to rise again. Amen.
What does it mean to you to “fight the good fight”? In what areas are you fighting right now? What is left for you to finish well?
As you can probably tell, we are wild about running. Walk, Run, Soar is a 52-week devotional and training journal, which includes coaching tips, workout plans and more, written by Shawn and me.
As a runner, you want to accomplish your physical goals. But deep down, you long for your training to be a more meaningful experience, engaging your body, mind, soul, and spirit. Walk, Run, Soar is designed for runners who hope to experience God’s presence, purpose, and glory in a deeper way as they run. We will get you moving with a new motivation: improving your spiritual health. Along with weekly devotions to inspire you, Walk, Run, Soar includes:
practical running/training tips
training schedules from a running and triathlon coach
advice on how to fuel your body well
reflection questions and action steps
space to journal and record your running progress
Whether you are new to running or a longtime runner, Walk, Run, Soar will motivate you to hit your fitness goals while strengthening your faith. This book makes a great grad gift, teacher gift, or something to help kick start your summer!
Glory recommendations
Each week I like to share links to some of my own work or resources that are inspiring me and my family to chase after God’s glory! Here are five for you to check out this week:
Kaylee Prays for the Children of the World is an inspiring story about faith, empathy, and the power of prayer. Written by my friend Helen Lee and beautifully illustrated by Shin Maeng, this book follows Kaylee and her grandfather, Halbi, as they read the morning newspaper. While reading, they look for ways to pray for the children of the world. When Kaylee sees a photo of a sad boy from far away, she begins to wonder, "Does God really care?" This heartfelt story gently guides children to recognize the brokenness in our world and to turn their hearts to God with the assurance that He hears every prayer―even when words feel hard to find. This book offers a way for families to engage with global issues through prayer, fostering meaningful conversations with children. Every month I give away a book that is inspiring me. Comment below with why you are interested in winning this one for May!
I’m reading a new middle grade novel written in verse, Isabel in Bloom, by AANHPI author Mae Respicio. Twelve-year-old Isabel is the new kid in her San Francisco middle school. It’s the first time in many years that she’ll be living with her mother again. Mama's job in the US allowed Isabel and her grandparents to live more comfortably in the Philippines, but now Isabel doesn't really know her own mother anymore. Making new friends in a new city, a new country, is hard, but joining the gardening and cooking club at school means Isabel will begin to find her way, and maybe she too, will begin to bloom. In this beautifully rendered novel-in-verse, my friend Mae Respicio explores how growth can take many forms, offering both the challenges and joy of new beginnings. I highly recommend this one as a summer read for your tween or teen - or for yourself!
My friend Sharla Fritz just released a new Bible study called Divine Directions: How God Guides Your Path. Through the mountains and valleys of life through His Word and constant presence. This Bible study will include discussion questions, answers, maps, and other features. I had the chance to sit in a workshop led by Sharla a few years ago. She is such an intentional and creative Bible teacher. This is a great choice if you are looking for a summer study to do on your own or with a small group.
Are you looking for something fun to wear for graduation, a formal dance, or summer wedding? Our family with four girls to dress for events loves Nuuly. This is a clothes rental service. You pay a monthly fee and get to choose six items in any sizes. I love it because many of the items arrive brand new and have tags still on them. My daughters get to pick out designer dresses that are unique to their style while I rent items that are great for travel and speaking. Check out Nuuly with code FAVSICLE20 and get $20 off! Also, teachers only pay $28 for Teacher Appreciation Month in May if you verify with your ID.
Southern California friends, I’m going to be reading my latest children’s book, Kailani's Gift on Saturday, May 31 from 10:30 AM - 12 PM in Art of the Pacific Islands exhibition at the Bowers Museum. Held every last Saturday of the month, Storytime in the Galleries includes free copies of each author’s featured book for the first 35 to RSVP and free General Admission to the galleries for the first 35 participants to arrive at each event. Reading in the galleries will be followed by a simple, fun art project that kids will love. Be sure to reserve your spot with a ticket.
*This post contains affiliate links at no extra cost to you. Thank you for helping to support this ministry!
Friend, I’m so grateful you are a part of my Glorygram tribe! I count it an incredible privilege to connect with each of you through this Glorygram. I offer a paid subscription to this newsletter with all the bells and whistles! For $50 per year (or $5 a month), you'll gain access to my full archive, bonus posts, monthly recipe posts, and my Lent and Advent devotionals! While the free weekly emails will continue, my subscription-only content will be an extension of the foundation we've built together. My goal is always to help you continue to feast on God’s glory in your everyday lives. To subscribe and unlock this exclusive content, simply hit the Subscribe Now button. Founding members will also get a personalized, signed copy of one of my books! I am so grateful for all of your prayers and support!
Loved this Glorygram! Thanks for sending out inspiring messages, Dorina. SO GOOD!
Helen Lee’s book sounds like a wonderful way to teach the grandkids about prayer! It would be very welcome addition to our library. Congratulations on your daughter’s win! Three hundred hurdles is one of the hardest races in track. There are so many similarities between track and field and life! I know that God uses you to touch the lives of these young athletes (and their families). Prayers for you in this very important mission field, especially as the school year is winding down. 🙏🏻🙏🏻😊