Sticking with it!

I have been thinking a lot about what this July 4th means to me this year. I thought back to our Founding Fathers, and what must have been on their hearts and minds and the motivation, behind the decisions they made. What I saw was a love of God and family,perseverance and sacrifice. What motivated them 232 years ago to write the Declaration of Independence, and what motivates many of us today are the same things. Love of God and of family. Is God someone I have a relationship with or just a pretty coat I put on when I feel like it, to impress others. Is God real to me? Do I sacrifice and persevere? I have been learning from my precious son, Kevin( my gift from heaven) he has been preparing for a 5k run/walk these past 3 weeks. That is 3.1 miles. He has been training on country roads all by himself, he asked 4 different people if they wanted to train with him, 3 said no, the other as quickly as he saw just how far 3.1 miles was,quite also. Kevin who loves to sleep was out either at 6:30 am or 7 pm training. The first time he did 1 mile it took him an hour. Wednesday the 2ndof July he did 5 k in 1 hour 17 min. Yesterday , the 4th he did his first 5k walk/run with precious family from our church and finished in 56 min. Here are some pictures of him on these long lonely country roads.(don't look at the dates on the pictures, I don't know how to set the date?) and then Kev, ready to cross the finish line with, Daniel and Jeannie w/Hawkeye. He preservered and he finished the race, the race started out on those country roads not at the starting line. There was preparation and sacrifice, long before recorded finish. I am seeing that there is still the race to be run, many have gone before me. I have a heritage of honor that came before me, and a heritage of honor that is coming after me, I will not be found wanting. I see my son develping relationship with God and with others. He loves his family, not just his earthly family, but his family, that is the body of Christ. He is learning to make decisions that may require sacrfice and perserveance. There maybe times when none will go with him, but he will do what he knows in his heart to be right. He is learning much more than being able to travel 3.1 miles, he is learning how to be a man. I am seeing the transformation from a boy to a man, and I am very blessed. There will be many lessons along the road and I pray that he will continue in grace and honor. I am so grateful to all who have encouraged him along the way, he is looking forward to next year. He wants to finish in under 20 min next year. I'm sure he will, and I am sure he will learn many other lessons along the way. I asked him what went through his mind out on those country roads all by himself, he said he sang songs to the Lord and prayed, and he was appreciating all that God has done for him in his life. Maybe we all need long lonely country roads , that really aren't so lonely.