A Labor of Love!!

For about 4 months now I’ve been running around 9 or 10 o’clock at night.  The sun/heat absolutely crushes you if you run during the day, and I’m not a good morning runner (is there such thing as a good morning?:), so that leaves late evenings for me.

My son Sam has been going with me, but riding his bike.   At first I was a little apprehensive, because I didn’t want to get slowed down, and for the most part I’ve been a solo runner all of my life.  Well, Sam & I have been having a blast.  We talk, laugh, I answer life questions for him, etc……So to say the least, he’s become my running buddy.  My dad was a runner, still is, but he never took me on the journey.  I wonder what it would’ve meant for me, had he taking time to mentor & train me directly?  Just a thought!  FYI – my Father & I have a great relationship now.

For months I’ve been pushing Sam mentally & physically on his bike.  By nature he doesn’t like to sweat, and he doesn’t like to have to push himself to the brink.  I think a lot of humans are the same way.  Hey, I can be at times!  All that to say, it’s not uncommon for someone to hear me saying/yelling to Sam as he bikes up-hill, “Come on”, “You can do it”, “Don’t quit”.  I will admit, it has been a labor of love to get Sam to the place where he can actually bike 10 mi, while I run, without complaining. The pros outweigh the cons though – trust me!!

So………..Thursday night, my two youngest children (Juilia & Gabe), asked if they could come.  “No way, you guys would never make it”, I said.  They pleaded, “please, please, please!”.  I caved!

With lights mounted on their heads, and me carrying a flashlight, we set out on what I thought was going to be a trek from hell:)  1 mi into it, I hear Sam (my first trainee), saying, “come on”, “you guys can do this”, “stick by me”.  Never once did one complaint come out of Sam’s mouth.  Why? He was busy, taking what I’ve taught him for 4 mo, and passing it on.  He had taken his eyes off of himself, and unconsciously began coaching his younger siblings, to “come on”, “you can do it”, “don’t quit”.  Thursday night I watched Sam lead his younger brother & sister to bike 8 miles.  I high-fived him after the adventure!

I think it had to be an awesome thing for Jesus to watch as his disciples took what they had been taught by Him, and began to  teach & train others, without Him having to say a word.  Jesus had worked with them, and then they were ultimately released to do what He had taught them.  You know their was some serious coaching, training, and maybe even some shouting going on, when Jesus was working with some of those hard nose followers of His?  A labor of love?  Yes!  But, from my experience the other night, it is so well worth it!

If you’re doing a labor of love right now?  It will pay off!!  “Come on!”, “You can do it!”, “Don’t quit!”.  What is your labor of love??

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