"Dat's what Fenz for"

Earlier this week, Merritt, our 3 year old, said that to me.  "Dat's what fenz for, you know it?"  It was the cutest thing to hear coming from the absolute most precious curly blond haired little boy on Earth. 

This evening, while reflecting on the day's events....we ran a 5k race today, I thought about that statement.  Today, at the Habitat Hustle 5k in Watkinsville, I ran a PR for 3.1 miles of 28:33, breaking my last record of 29:45. It was awesome, amazing, overwhelming and exhausting all at the same time.  This race was tough, I'm not gonna lie.  It was rainy, wet and cold, and the course was a loop with 2 small loops around a parking lot (with a good hill in it) and then 2 larger loops (with another good hill in it).  I was running with my husband, Billy and my amazing best friend, Amanda Martin.  Boyd Guttery (my personal trainer), joined us at about mile 2, once he finished the race with a time of 17 minutes flat. 

Once Boyd joined us, he immediately set in with the usual coach talk, meant to encourage me and make me angry all at the same time.  I must admit, though, that looking back, I am absolutely astonished by how motivational his calm and strong voice is to me.  He kept saying things like, "You're strong, you've worked hard, you've put the time in" and "see that guy up there, he hasn't run 10 miles, you have, now take him, come on, push it."  And you know what, it worked!!! 

Having his voice in my ear, despite Amanda telling him to shut up....haha, did remind me just how hard I have worked over the past 6 months, in particular, just how strong I have become. I have become stronger by putting in the time out on the road, even in the cold and the rain, even on days when I would have rather slept in or when my knees were screaming at me to just stop.   That's what friends are for, right, to encourage us to be better, stonger versions of ourself that more accurately portray the image of Christ. 

With each step, with each run, with each PR, I am amazed at what my body can do.  My mind tells me to stop because it hurts; I'm out of breath, gasping for air, and yet my legs just keep going....carrying me closer to that finish line.  With each step, with each run, with each PR, Luke 1:37 becomes a reality, "for nothing is impossible with God."  Nothing can compare to the feeling of crossing the finish line and realizing a goal that you have worked so hard for.

I am thankful for friends that text me to ask what my time was....  I am thankful for friends that concern themselves with the things that are important to me and for family that never misses the opportunity to tell me they are proud of me for all that I've accomplished.  That's what friends are for. 

I am thankful for the opportunity to tell you that you too can accomplish whatever goal you have set for yourself.  Surround yourself with the right people.  Tell everyone you can what your goals are for accountability.  Set a goal, then work.  Don't be afraid to work hard!!!

Be careful what voice you listen to.  Will you listen to the voice in your head that tells you that you can't do it or will you listen to the one that tells you how strong you are, the one that reminds you of just how hard you've worked?  Will you listen to the voice that tells you to give up because it's too difficult or that it seems impossible or will you listen to the voice that tells you, "for nothing is impossible with God"? 

Good friends are hard to come by.  My good friends helped me realize another running goal today, and we had a great time doing it.  My good friends have encouraged me to be a better person, a better follower of Christ.  Dat's what fenz for, you know it?

 Proverbs 27:17 "As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend."