My son and I participated in a Race for the Cure this spring. We had to drive four hours one way to get to the race location. So, we decided to drive over the night before and spend the night. Then, we would be rested when we walked in the race the next morning.

I left work early the day before the race and drove a little over an hour to my son’s house to pick him up and head out. My son is grown and has a very busy life with his work, his school and his service to the Lord. It was very sweet of him to agree to give up his day off and do this race with me. And with everything he has going on in his life right now, this was probably going to be one of the last times we would get to spend any time together for a while.

This has been a very wet and rainy spring in the state where we live. On the way, we drove thru some areas that were still flooded from all of the devastating rainfall. The impact of the situation becomes very real when you see the water still surrounding people’s homes and farms that look like white capping lakes. And in places, there was water as far as the eye could see. We prayed for all of the flood victims, that our merciful God would help them recover, rebuild and move forward with their lives.

We reached the motel, got checked in and headed up to our room. There was a “do not disturb” sign on the room door, which we thought was a bit odd. When we walked in, it was obvious that someone had taken a shower after the room had been cleaned. The shower and shower curtain were wet. There were wet towels on the tub and on the back of the door…very odd indeed!

We went out for dinner. When we got back to the motel, I went to the front desk for some clean towels. The man at the desk said the carpet had been cleaned in our room that day and that they probably had rinsed some of their equipment. I thought, “And they got the shower curtain wet? I don’t think so!” Anyway, he gave me clean towels and I headed back up to the room. In the elevator, I visited with a lady who worked at the motel. She asked why we were in town. I told her we were there for the Race for the Cure. She asked if I was a survivor. I said, “Yes, I’m two and a half years clear.” And as I left the elevator, she said, “God’s not through with you yet.”

After breakfast the next morning, we headed on over to the race location. It was a beautiful day! The temperature was perfect and there was a nice breeze. There were thousands of people walking and running in the race. I began to watch the people and the whole event was both happy and sad. It was happy in that there was so much support, love and encouragement. And the very large number of people there who were wearing the pink survivor t-shirts was a huge blessing! Thank you, Lord!! And it was sad to see all the names of the people who have died from this awful disease. It’s also sad, when you see groups of people racing in memory of someone. And it’s sad to think about how when one person has cancer that it affects all of the people around them. It’s so sad that cancer has touched almost everyone in some way.

My son and I started talking about how important it is to finish a race. Not just this race, but all of life’s races. We started noticing that some people were veering off course before finishing. Some were leaving the course when they came to where their car was parked. Some were cutting across parking lots and such to finish sooner. Not that any of this was important in this particular race. But in the race called life we need to stay on that straight and narrow path and finish the course that God has set before us no matter how difficult, challenging or time consuming it is.

When we neared the finish line, my son offered me his arm and we walked arm in arm across the finish line. He kissed the top of my head and said, “I love you moma.” I cried. I cried because finishing this race reminded me of my two and a half year battle with breast cancer. I cried for those who lost their fight with cancer. I cried because I am so blessed to have such wonderful family, friends, church family and coworkers who love and support me. I cried because our merciful Father in heaven healed me and is allowing me to continue on life’s journey a while longer. And I cried because this was a cherished moment with my son and one that I will never forget.

Hebrews 12:1-2 KJV -Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.