Saturday, May 8, 2010

Dear God,

I do believe you put tears in a vessel for us to spill whenever something good or bad happens. Something good happened today.

My daughter Jennifer made a decision many months ago to run the mini marathon. Now, this was something because Jenni was not into exercise or running. Yet, something or someone was calling her to run. For months she has trained. Nearly every day she either exercised at the gym or ran miles in her neighborhood. She was determined, losing 40 pounds in the process.

Today she joined 40,000 others in downtown Indianapolis. She was ready with more than three hours of programmed inspirational music to urge her on. She donned her special black tee shirt with the scripture from 2 Timothy. "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." She had a goal of two hours and fifty nine minutes. Although she battled winds of more than 30 miles an hour, she finished in two hours, fifty nine minutes and sixteen seconds. She ran across the finished line weeping.

Thirty nine years old Jenni has overcome two types of skin cancer and ovarian cancer. She has triumphed over hurts and disappointments in her life. She has built a beautiful spirit inside her.

All along the way you have whispered encouragement to my middle child especially in runs when the temperatures were below freezing. You have reminded her to get up and get going. You have shown her what she is made of. You have inspired her from the inside out. You were the voice she heard as she listened to her music.

Thank you
for my Jenni,
for her determination
and her spirit.
Thank you
for working
through her.
Thank you
for making her
a champion.

Love, Andrea