those blessings are sweetest that are won with prayer and worn with thanks. ~thomas goodwin
“maybe it would be nice to have a running buddy.”
that’s what i was thinking to myself a few years ago during my afternoon run. i mean don’t get me wrong…i do so love me some solitude and quiet time. but my girl was off to college and i was feeling a little lonesome. and i thought it might be nice to have a friend to share this space of my life with.
so as i ran down the midland valley trail, i offered up my simple prayer to God. in my mind’s eye i pictured a woman around my age. i also suggested to God that, although i wouldn’t mind if she ran a little faster than me – a push might be nice – i would prefer she not be a super-fast runner. oh and also that she wouldn’t get too offended if sometimes i didn’t really feel like talking.
God totally answered my prayer. only it looks nothing like what i asked for.
my husband and i have been running together for the past year.
it’s crazy that i just wrote that. no kidding. for 20+ years of marriage, running was always solo activity. and now after all this time, to be able to have this new thing together…well it’s just amazing.
i love how he pushes me, in the very best possible way. i love how when i’m with him i can go on all different kinds of routes that i would not have gone by myself. i love how with him we can run later into the year – even when it’s dark – and stave off the ‘dreadmill’ for a few more weeks. i love how sometimes we talk the whole way,but that he doesn’t seem to mind if i don’t feel like talking.
well, except for the time i gave him the silent-treatment for 3.2 miles….but that’s another blog post for another day.
anyway, the reason i am telling you about this is because i think it’s interesting how God answers prayers. i could never have imagined that one day i would be telling you about running with my husband. never in a million years. i mean i never even dreamed that could be a possibility, let alone ask God for that. but you know God….He can be a real show-off sometimes.
so whatever kind of big dreams you have for your Art…don’t be afraid to ask God for it. but i’ll warn you now…be careful what you ask for. because God does hear our prayers. He does answer our prayers. only sometimes it’s not exactly the way we might have planned it.
it’s probably better than we could possibly imagine.
the Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. ~lamentations 3:25
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Love this and so true!!!! Happy running!!!
Ha! My dad used to tell us kids this same thing all.the.time. ‘Be careful what you wish for!’ xo
Amen! It’s always so much better than anything we could have ever imagined!!!
Sis, I love this post. You know when Kelsey went off to school and you were in the dark places of “empty nest”, I was somewhat concerned at how you and Tripp would work out the emptiness of your nest. So many marriages fall apart when the children leave home; my guess is that they weren’t that great of a marriage to begin with, but it does happen. I am so grateful that you and Tripp aren’t one of those marriages. I’m so happy you found your “place” with each other, to share, enjoy, bond even more. Life is pretty tough a lot of the time and really takes a toll on marriages. I’m glad you have such a great relationship and that you’re such a great team. Love you both!