So, when training for a marathon, sticking to your training schedule might not be the easiest thing to do. And this week was tough. I scheduled myself to run a total of 40 miles this week. However, about the middle of the week, I got lazy. I missed my Wednesday run, I ran 4 miles on Thursday, and on Friday I wanted to get in an 8-mile run, but instead I got busy and didn't end up running ANY miles. I did a 10-mile run on Saturday, at least. All in all, I finished the week with 30 miles, which is a heck of a lot more than the average American, but still, I came short of my goal. I ended the week feeling a little bit discouraged.
This got me thinking about others who try to overcome addictions. They set goals for themselves, and say they will accomplish them, and for a few weeks, they might do very well. But then, after a few weeks of doing really awesome, a relapse comes along. They fall short of a goal; they take a drag of a cigarette, or they go out drinking with some buddies who pressure them into doing it; perhaps they succumb to a peek or two on a pornographic website. Whatever the addiction, the feeling is the same. They fall short, and it looks as though they can never get back on track. What they don't realize is that they have control. God has given us our freedom to choose what we will do. That freedom to choose is so crucial - perhaps the most crucial - when we make a mistake and fall short of what he expects of us. We have two choices when we make a mistake. We can choose to stay down, and be as a pig rolling around in the mud, and cover ourselves in more and more filthiness; or, alternatively, we can choose to lift ourselves up with the help of our brother, Jesus Christ, and clean ourselves off and return to the path that will lead us to God.
I had a few bumps in the road with my training schedule this past week, it's true. It got me tripped up a bit. But I'm not going to let that discourage me. I know that if I do not pick myself up now, I will not be ready to run the marathon by November 10. So here I go. I'm picking myself up. I woke up this morning, I ran 9 miles like I scheduled myself to do, and I ran them very well. I'm getting back on track, and I know I can do this!
P.S. I had a dream about Callie a few nights ago, and it was hilarious! We were in the Mount Airy chapel, and Aimee was demonstrating how Callie associated the color blue with boys, and the color pink with girls. She held out a pink cup and said, "Callie, is this a boy cup or a girl cup?" Callie looked at it and said, "Pink. GIRL CUP!" It was cute, everybody laughed, and then we asked, "Callie, is Josh a boy, or a girl?" She got a mischievous grin on her face and said, "Extra Pink!" I thought that was so funny, and for a minute I couldn't tell if it was a dream or reality! I know she's starting the terrible twos, and she might be getting a little clever like that! Still, she is such a sweet, precious soul. How blessed we are who know her and have her as a part of our lives.
