Lessons Learned

This week we have been preparing to travel to Todd, NC, to support our youngest son compete in his 4th marathon. In doing so, it reminded me of several years ago when God taught me a lesson of His love that I will never forget.

My son was then training for his first marathon. It was on a Sunday, and he was doing what he calls his long run day. He calls me and asked if I could come to get him because he felt he couldn’t make it home. I asked where he was, and he told me, but I was forty-five minutes to an hour away. I told him to sit and rest, and I would be there as soon as I could. He, in turn, told me not to worry that he would make it home. Of course, with me being his mom, I was going to worry. I hung up the phone and started praying. I asked God to please help him to get home safely.

When we arrived home, we found our son sitting on the porch. When I opened my car door, a dog ran up to me, loving all over me. While this may seem like no big deal, it was significant to my husband and me. Most dogs run to him because he’s the dog person in our family, not me.

But this dog acted like he had known me forever. I asked our son where the dog came from, and he replied, “I don’t know mom. After I got off the phone with you, he came up and started running with me and ran with me all the way home.” Of course, I lost it! I knew that God had sent that precious dog to provide our son with a running buddy to offer companionship to him for him to make it home.

When the dog ran up to me as he did, I knew that was God’s way of answering my prayer beyond what I had prayed. God made Himself known to me that day in the most unusual way. I felt Him place His arms around me and whisper, “I love you beyond what you can even imagine. You matter to me.” I’ll never forget that day, and while others may think I’m crazy, I know that it was an expression of His love for my family and me.

Friend, I want to encourage you if you’re like our son was that day. If you are running and you’re exhausted with life and feel as if there’s no energy left in your body to continue to go one step further, call out to the One person that can rescue you. When no one else can save you, He can. God can refresh and energize you to provide you with precisely what you need to be able to continue in this life. All you have to do is call out to Him. He will meet you wherever you are. Friend be strengthened today through His love for you. Remember that you are so important to Him, and you are very loved by Him.