Right Hand

I have a few prayer requests today before I get started posting. Specifically right now Blake is in the middle of his US Medical Exams-part I (aka the boards). It is a 7 hour test covering his first two years of med school. He is taking it in Mobile, AL and went in around 9am to begin. I won't hear from him until he is done. Keep him in your prayers if you happen to read my blog today. If you are reading and it's after the fact-pray for the results! He gets them probably in about a month or so.

My Mom has an update on her progress that I wanted to share with all of you. Please keep these as major prayer requests as we head into what is almost 6 months from the accident. She went to see her neurosurgeon last week who said that her healing is coming along nicely. She currently can bend her left arm at the elbow but not raise it above her head. Continue to request this in prayer. We know it will come back but we need to really cover that arm in prayer. Time is definitely all it will take but I would love for her to be able to move it more freely before the end of summer!

She also went to see the orthopedic last week for her right hand/wrist. Her wrist has healed perfectly but her fingers however are not doing as good. She continues to struggle on stretching those 3 fingers (middle finger, ring finger and pinky) out properly. She will have to wear a splint for an hour a day for each finger in order to get those little digits to work properly.

So this got me thinking how often just the right hand is mentioned in the Bible. If you have ever felt like the Bible isn't life applicable, think again. I did a search on biblegateway.com and found 136 verses that pertained to the right hand!


This one is my favorite and it will be my verse, my battle cry and my song to God for my Mom's continued healing.
Psalm 16:8 (New International Version)

8 I have set the LORD always before me.
Because he is at my right hand,
I will not be shaken.

How can we even be scared when the creator of the world and my entire being is at our right hand? Even if that right hand may be a bit crippled at this moment he is still there guarding us and protecting us.

How can we be alone or fearful when he is there with us at the very place of our pain?
Psalm 73:23 (New International Version)

23 Yet I am always with you;
you hold me by my right hand.

How can we be worried when he stands ready to crush those that persecute us?

Psalm 110:5 (New International Version)

5 The Lord is at your right hand;
he will crush kings on the day of his wrath.

And although I know this verse is personifying wisdom I like to think it is also a verse just for my Mom right now and is a promise to her complete and total healing!

Proverbs 3:16 (New International Version)

16 Long life is in her right hand;
in her left hand are riches and honor.

1:35:15...

That was my time in the Statue to Statue 15k on Saturday. I ran from the Vulcan Statue in Southside to the Miss Liberty Statue in Liberty Park. I feel pretty good about my time actually. This was clearly, like the t-shirt says,"The South's Toughest 15K." It's never good when the shirt brags about it being hard. I walked up two hills, which I think should actually be labeled black diamonds. I have never walked in a race so this was a first but I have also never ran a course that proudly boasts of being one of the toughest courses in a region!

I wish I could say that I had some sort of spiritual enlightenment while running the race or that I found a deeper meaning while my hips and knees pounded as my feet hit the pavement. No, all I know is that I was incredibly glad it was over. I was so happy it was over I didn't even see my friend Amy and Blake standing at the finish line aptly holding their own sign in honor of Miss Liberty-Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses...

I feel good though! I have accomplished a major goal. I will definitely go and put on that t-shirt today when I run the flattest 3 mile course in town!

Now in retrospect I can pull some life applications to the course. The race was pretty bare bones-no timing chips, no large crowds, no fancy finish line. It was just a group of people out for an early morning run. There were many a hill to climb. Run, walk, crawl whatever form of transportation you decided on worked in this situation because there was no other way to get over the mountain. Once we tackled the two major hills on mile 6 and 7 it was pretty much down hill the rest of the race.

Life is very similar to this course. There isn't anything fancy about it. No one cheering you on every single second/mile of the day. Just a group of people wanting to get the most out of their day to day. There are hills to climb. We can chose to walk, run and/or crawl over our metaphorical mountains and often times I have done all three options. Yet once we accomplish a goal we can go flying downhill into the finish line.

The race would not be the same however if there wasn't someone leading us onward. Luckily, someone knew the course b/c I had no clue where I was. There is a leader who takes us over the hurdles, who tells us which way to turn, who does show up and yell, "Ladies this is your last hill! You are almost there."

I think fortunately for us we have Jesus there with us even when it feels like you are left all alone on the course. My Mom has some uphill battles to climb this spring. Her fingers on her right hand are not working properly. They still feel like a claw and curl in. She is walking up this "hill" right now and trying her hardest to reach the peak so she can scale down the other side to mobility. Her left arm bends at the elbow but she is still unable to raise it over head.

Please continue praying for us as we face this hill as a family. I know the other side is a promising downhill run to Miss Liberty but we just need to reach the top. We aren't there yet and it does feel like each day it gets a little steeper. Luckily, we can look over our shoulder and see how far up we have already climbed.

Thank you for your prayers

1 Corinthians 9:24-28 (New International Version)

24Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.

25Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. 27No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

Runner's High

I have a 15k next weekend. It’s roughly 9.3 miles. I haven’t trained for anything over a 10k in a while. Last year I ran a half in April and a 10k in November. That was my last long race. So needless to say, I have had to really light a fire to get motivated.

I did all the things necessary to get prepared. First and foremost I had to get new shoes. I love going to those runner specialty shoe stores. They measure your foot, watch you run, have you try on their recommendations and let you take as much time as possible to make the final decision. I used to be intimidated to go into those stores. I didn’t think I was really a true runner, only logging my 12 miles a week unless I’m training. I do not have a runner’s body by any means and it wasn’t until I realized that there is no ideal “runner’s body.” We come in all shapes and sizes and run all different distances. It made me feel a lot better about myself and then pretty good to know that I belonged to a unique subculture out there!

I got my shoes and the next step was to get my music, gear and training schedule. I logged into runnersworld.com and went to their smart coach feature-plugged in my info and ta-da: instant training schedule. I have been training since March 9th so I think I am ready. I am still a little nervous because this is a pretty tough course.

I have done lots of different things to motivate me during my training. I have run with friends, ran a race in the rain that I talked about a few posts ago, and even put up a few pictures in my office to inspire me. One of my favorite quotes is a Nike ad from my Runner’s World magazine. I posted it below.



I love that it reminds me that running definitely gives back more. I may hate every minute of the run but in the end I gained more from it than it took from me. Typically on stressed days-I have gained clarity, peace of mind, and confidence. When I run with friends, I have gained 4, 5, 6 or more miles of a shared experience. I have grown closer to them and bonded and running definitely gave more back to me. I may lose a pound or so in the process but typically I use it as an excuse to eat more! And as a former fat girl-being able to eat is definitely a gift back!

This past Monday it was cold. A lot colder than it had been in the past weeks. I did not want to run at all. I even had to go home after work and get my running tights, gloves and ear warmers before I could hit the trail. I had 6 miles to run and I was dreading every moment of that run. I remembered my Nike quote-Running never takes more than it gives back. And so in sticking with the company’s slogan, I had to “just do it.” It was by far one of my best runs all year. I hit that “runner’s high” somewhere around the 3rd or 4th mile and just breezed through the rest of the trail.

It got me thinking about how all too often we as Christians view our spiritual walk as this painful drudgery. We think of excuses or a way out. We are tired, it’s too cold, I haven’t been training very long, my feet hurt, I need new shoes, etc… Why? Why do we do this? Swap out running and replace with Jesus. Jesus never takes more than He gives back…Believe in Jesus. It was a bit more convicting that I wanted to hear.

In the midst of my 6 mile run I hit a “runner’s high.” Let me tell you that I have never hit a “runner’s high” during a short casual run. Typically miles 1 or 2 are often the hardest miles. It got me thinking about our own spiritual highs and lows. It is during the most difficult and arduous times in my life when I hit that “runner’s high.” During a grueling journey, I find solace and comfort in the only hope I have, Jesus. I believe in the one thing that gets me to the finish line or stopping point. The one thing that won’t take more than it gives back.

This Easter rejoice in your risen Savior. You have a Father who conquered death, who overcame the grave, who is ready and willing to carry your burdens.

Thank you for traveling on this journey with us. We still have quite a way to go. And all along you have been there on the sidelines cheering us on, giving us water and goo when we needed a rest, walk or energy. You are the reason that we will go to church as a family this Easter Sunday. We are able to truly enjoy these holidays. Christmas of 2008 will not be forgotten, as we spent that time in the hospital and allowed my parents to see each other for the first time since the accident and now Easter of 2009 will stand out as well. We will welcome the dawn and celebrate the Resurrection of our Savior.

Chariots of Fire, Eric Liddell: I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast. And when I run I feel His pleasure.