MY HEART IS FULL

Last weekend was really special. It was a unique combination of family, dear friends, and 26.2 miles in a city that we absolutely love.

After months of early mornings, heat, hills, and logging miles— John and his best friend Dave joined 45,000+ other people to run the Chicago Marathon.

First. marathon. ever.

I went along to cheer for them while the brothers spent the weekend with Grandpa and Grandma just outside of Chicago in the town where John grew up. It was a little warmer than usual for this time of year in the midwest, but you could tell by the slant of the sun, the crispness of the breeze, and the combines in the fields along Interstate 55 harvesting the corn, that it was fall.

I have never run a marathon.

My dad has. My sister has. I have three cousins who have. My husband has.

I know from my experience of screaming his name from the curb at the 3-mile marker on LaSalle, and giving him a quick kiss at the 12-mile point just before he reached halfway, and seeing the emotion on his face at mile 20.5 that this is no small deal. This is a huge accomplishment. He did whatever it took to get across the finish and I am really proud of him. They didn’t give up when they could have. They finished. So cool.

After the race, we headed out of the city to meet a sweet collection of friends from our season of ministry in New Hampshire. We hugged, and cried, and laughed, and talked the night away at Sweet Tomatoes in Schaumburg, IL where you can get all the soup and salad that you can eat.

It was like a homecoming—seeing those faces.

It was a night filled with life-giving thought and reflection. God reminded me in that noisy restaurant that he weaves our stories together with others in very special ways. I looked around the table and I saw leaders, and gifted teachers, and poets, and compassionate-hearted grace givers. I saw lovers of the Church, and artists who create beauty, and people who are making a difference, and courageous friends willing to share their journeys of growth. I saw world-changers.

I thought about what Paul says in Philippians.

Every time you cross my mind, I break out in exclamations of thanks to God. Each exclamation is a trigger to prayer. I find myself praying for you with a glad heart…There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears.

Philippians 1:3 (The Message)

My heart is full. Full, indeed. Exclamations of thanks—so true.

Advertisement