Four Sisters
Several years ago Sue and I and my daughter Chrissy went to Florida to visit my daughter Sara. I signed up to do the Space Coast Marathon which was held near the Kennedy Space Center. It was a warm, humid day; not ideal running conditions. That meant I would be on the course for a long time, but at least I would get my money’s worth.
One benefit of running slow is you get to meet a lot of nice people. Near the halfway point I found myself running next to two sisters who were running their first marathon. I congratulated them, and they told me that their two other sisters were also in the race. They wore the same color shirts and were all running to raise funds for breast cancer research. It was obvious they were very close to each other, and I knew this race would form an even stronger bond between them.
The course was set up in a manner that the sisters saw each other at several points throughout the marathon. It was fun watching them hug and encourage each other, and also to see their excitement grow as they came closer to the finish line.
I eventually finished, and was greeted warmly by my family. Three of the sisters had also finished, and they were standing vigil, waiting for their fourth sibling. While I was taking pictures and enjoying some refreshments, I heard a loud cheer as the fourth sister came across the finish line, and they all embraced in a group hug
I walked over to congratulate them, but stopped as I got closer. I saw that the sisters were now weeping as they closed their circle to console one another. There were no other family members joining them. It dawned on me that they did not come together just to complete a marathon. They were likely running for breast cancer research because they lost someone very special to the disease.
I had a pretty good idea who that might be. After all, what mother could possibly be kept away from seeing her four precious daughters complete the challenge of themarathon, unless she could not be there?
As I thought about those four sisters, I am reminded about what can happen when people come together in fellowship and love. Grief is shared, relief efforts are organized, and prayers are raised from every corner of the planet. God is pleased when his children come together and bear one another’s burdens. Hebrews 10:25 tell us to “not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”
As a church family, we meet to worship, reach out to the community, and encourage one another through difficult times. Without one another, our church and school could not function, our outreach efforts would be ineffective, and the mission and vision statements would just be words in the bulletin each week.
Through the Holy Spirit we can be used by Jesus to effectively share His message of love. United in Christ we become an incredible vehicle for good. As the old saying goes, “united we stand, divided we fall”. Or as the Bible says: We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us (Philippians 4:13), or we can go forward without Him and accomplish nothing (John 15:5).
Our church and school have accomplished great things, but I believe our best days are still ahead. As we continue to grow in Christ we will view the world through His eyes, we will be motivated by “new” hearts, and we will be strengthened by the Holy Spirit to go forward in power.
Like the four sisters I met that day, we will run together, encourage one another, and grieve with one another. One day soon, we will cross the finish line together, greeted by the One who already ran the race and won it for us. He will treat each of us as if we were the winners and prepare a banquet, issue us crowns, and allow us to enjoy the cheers of the heavenly court. But we will know better, as we lay those crowns at His feet, and begin to enjoy eternity in His presence. He may at that point have to wipe away our tears.
As we were getting ready to leave that day, the sisters were leaving too. I congratulated them, and asked if it was possible for a humble runner like me to get a picture with the famous four sisters. They laughed and said sure. It’s a nice picture, and a nice reminder of the power of coming together in a time of sorrow, and leaving with a lifetime memory.
If it was their mother who was their motivation that day, I look forward to meeting her. Taking on the marathon in her memory tells me that her daughters had a very special person for a Mom.
But then again, I won’t be the first to tell her she did a great job.
By John Nicholson, Governing Board
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