Mercy

As a kid growing up, I learned that Christ sacrificed His life on the cross for my sins because He loves me. While it is true that Christ was motivated by love and even love for me, I have grown to understand that His primary motivation was something even more amazing. He was motivated by His love for and therefore obedience to the Father. Jesus Christ chose to lay down His life because He loves the Father and true love necessitates obedience. Christ "became obedient unto death, even death on a cross." (Philippians 3) Christ was willing to endure that pain of the cross because He was an obedient Son. His obedience wasn't grudging or angry; it was willing. A submission to the will of the Father that wasn't unaware of the cost, but was willing to obey for the "joy that was set before Him." (Hebrews 12:2) I am thankful for His willing obedience as it is the source of my life, my salvation from the power and penalty for my own sin. But His obedience is more, it is the example that I must follow if I am to be a "friend of God." (John 14-15) I am so far from that place of willing, happy obedience. I want my way. I want what pleases my flesh. I desire my comfort, my happiness at the expense of those that I love and even at the expense of obeying my Father. So, I come again and remember His happy obedience, His quiet answers to Pilate, and I am encouraged to let go, to say, "Mercy" and submit to the will of the Father, and to give up my hold on my desires and let Him be God.

Thank you, LORD, for Your example and Your mercy that keeps teaching the lessons that I struggle to learn. Thank you for a day set aside to remember Your victory won through submission.

I ran!

So, my husband thinks that because he is training for several races, that I must want to keep up. Yesterday, he essentially sent me to run a 5K. Because I am so obedient, he didn't have to throw me out of the house and lock the door, but he threatened to.

On the drive over, I had that short-of-breath, I-think-that-I-could-throw-up feeling that I always get when I think about racing and as I type race reports (right now!) Just like at the last two races that I went to, I met a woman who was running her first race. I am a new runner magnet! The format of this run was different in that runners were given a handicap. I was supposed to start running when the clock had counted down to 7.04, but I missed it and started at 6.32. The nerves then pushed me to run to catch up the missed 30 seconds in the first half mile of the course. Since I always run the first part of a run too fast, this didn't bode well for a negative split and a well-run race. I had fun for the first half. I'm not sure where the pain won, but when I made the last turn and looked along the trail to the finish nearly half a mile away, I thought that I would rather walk than run right then. I knew that it was time to pick up the pace, but my mind refused to cooperate. I finally did kick it in, when a female runner tried to pass me near the finish. I guess, I finally decided to stop being lazy. Miracle of miracles, my split time was only six seconds slower for the second half. Amazing for me for a normal race, but even more so since I was in panic mode for the first mile or so. I was rather pleased with the time. Not my fastest 5K, but respectable only six months after baby number four and especially considering that I was up nursing at 3:15 a.m. the night before. I'll take it. I'm not sure that I want to run another for awhile, but I did run at least one!

Victory!

Yesterday, something happened that made me "jump up and shout" happy. I know it is a trivial thing, but it made me smile; I am still smiling! My three-year old daughter said, "This banana is healthful." In an earlier conversation with her, I had mentioned the distinction between the use of the words "healthy" and "healthful." She not only listened, but also applied what we talked about! Any time a child learns a lesson, it is cause to rejoice for a homeschooling parent, but this was especially sweet because my young child is exhibiting a better use of the English language than many people. Dr. Chapman (my teacher for Advance Grammar and Composition) would be very proud; I am very proud!