Encouragement

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His heart quickened again, though he had thought it could not beat any faster. Jon could make out the finish line in the distance, but the fatigue of the race threatened to stop him.

Shannon was definitely the next fastest runner. Over and over, John told himself that she was not going to catch him. It took great mental discipline to keep telling himself that she would not overtake him, all the while pushing back the intrusive thought that it was possible. She could still win.

The weariness told him he could not push any faster. If he could just hold this speed however, the race was his.

Sweat blurred his vision. John felt lightheaded, and an increasing nausea had been his companion for the last few miles.

Closer, closer still, the finish line appeared to be moving toward him. He could start to make out faces in the crowd, full of anticipation, cheering him on. In his mind's eye, he imagined the announcer: "Jonathan Walters has come in first place!" The race was his.

He began to reflect once again on the most difficult parts of the race, the fatigue, the wrenching pain in his calves. Jon thought of all the times that he had almost quit. They played again through his mind like a slide show, as he approached the long awaited goal.

He could now hear the crowds cheering. He broke through the tape. He kept on running for another five yards, as his coach had taught him to envision his goal as beyond the finish.

Fans and reporters gathered 'round. Questions flowed, cameras flashed, and fans flooded the track.

Jonathan took a few moments to catch his breath, and focus. The cheering crowd quieted down enough to hear what he had to say.

"I am grateful to be here and to have this achievement. It is the culmination of many years of training, and I am thankful." He paused only a moment considering whether he should continue his thoughts.

"However, I need you to know . . .. There were four times along this route that I thought to quit the race and give up."

Disbelief hushed the crowd.

"However, each time that I thought to quit, there was someone holding out a cup of water to me, just when I needed it. If not for that water, a slap on the backk, a word of encouragement, I believe I could have quit at any one of those times. The goal I'd worked so hard for would not have been realized." Jon paused for another breath.

"I have become convinced especially this last leg of the race, that I owe this achievement to those four people -- those who gave a weary body, as well as a faltering spirit, a cup of water. You were there when I needed you. I don't know their names, but I say a heartfelt 'Thank you'.
Thank you very much. Without you I would not have reached the goal."

A few moments ago everyone wanted to be Jonathan Walters, with his achievement, his victory. Now, many in the stands, whom had simply sat at the finish line as spectators, wished they'd been one of the four honored encouragers.

Have you thanked those who have encouraged you?


"Encourage one another and lift one another up,
just as in fact you are doing."
--1 Thessalonians 5:11

"A generous man will prosper;
he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed."
--Proverbs 11:25

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