Our oldest daughter, Lashae, mother of 5 of our grands, just finished her first marathon. I can’t describe all the feelings wrapped up in her race. I was invested! I didn’t go but I was 100 percent invested in the whole process. My heart was in it and I was with her before I knew she was running.
The hardest thing for a mom to do for herself, is to do anything for herself. When we realize the time, energy and focus it takes to do something that seems completely selfish, it can trip us up. Tripping and running don’t go well together, no matter the distance or destination.
Investing in Yourself, is Investing in Your Children
What I realized, maybe for the first time as a parent, as Lashae was running her race; everything we invest into ourselves we are investing into our children. I ran the same course, my first marathon, 22 years ago and my kids, husband and friends, came and watched. Twenty-two years later, Lashae ran her marathon race, as her kids, husband, brothers, sisters, extended family and friends watched, and supported near and far. As my point of view changed from runner to support, I realized “training” starts as a spectator. Training to run our own race in life, starts by watching others go first.
Spending and Saving Time
As moms, we focus a lot on time. We budget time better than anything else, especially when it comes to time for ourselves. Time is ticking fast and slow when we have young ones in training. How much time do we have? How much time will it take? How much time do I need? My answers about time, my perspective, has changed dramatically as I watch the next generation live out their life and run their own race. My mature perspective is; we have all the time we need, it goes fast, so take it slower. Quit rushing and putting things off until we have more time. More time is never going to happen, we have been given this time, and what we do now, counts forever.
What’s Good for Moms is Good for Kids
I didn’t teach my kids about running specifically, and yet they learned.I did my own running because it was good for me; turns out, doing what is good for me is good for them. It seemed selfish to spend time and money running around doing what I enjoyed. What we do, we are teaching, and our kids will do it too. It might look a little different for each child, but living your life is the greatest training program for teaching children to live theirs.
Mamas!!! We must live our lives well. Take care of ourselves. Be healthy in relationships, spirit, mind, and body. Put the time in. Put the time into running your race, living your life and the calling God has given, and let your kids be a part of it. Investing in the life God has given you is investing in your kids.
Investing in yourself doesn’t mean ditching everyone and getting self-centered so you can focus on others. Centering yourself, is investing in the life God has given you, and it will impact your kids.
Pouring Out
Pouring into our kids happens every day, the things we mean to pour and the things we accidentally spill. Scripture teaches, it’s not so concerning what we take into our bodies, but what comes pouring out, that makes an impact.
Our kids will not do everything the way we do, they are running their own race in life. The way they see us running now, is one way they map their course.
Be encouraged mothers of all ages; loving Life right in front of kids of all ages, shows them the Way to True living.
We all have a race to run, let’s support one another, running and cheering every step of the way.
1 Corinthians 9:23-25 I do everything to spread the Good News and share in its blessings. Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize.
