The Eyes of the Father.

The anticipation was growing by the second as we pulled into the parking lot of Texas Tech’s indoor track facility. The day had finally arrived and my heart raced as I thought about what the day would hold. This wasn’t just another track meet, this was the national championships. As we made our way into the stadium through the crowd and competitors we found a seat that gave us a very good view to watch our son compete for something he had worked so hard for. My heart beamed with pride as I spotted him warming up and getting ready for his first race. My eyes fixed in on him as he made his way to the blocks. “Runners take your mark”, my focus intensified as everything around me faded into nothing. “Ready”, my heart began to race faster as he lowered into his starting position and then raised his head, his eyes fixed on the first hurdle. “BANG!”, I couldn’t contain myself, “Go Denim!” I yelled hoping that my voice would somehow be heard over all the others in the crowd. He ran hard and finished the race well.

As a heptathlete he would have seven events over the course of two days and I would endure each one knowing the gravity of what just a minor mistake in one event could mean. On every jump I found myself moving and leaning in my seat as if I was somehow connected to him. My eyes never lost sight of him, he had my sole attention. By the last event he was in second place overall and it all came down to one race. The longest race of the day, the 1500 Meters. A race of endurance, where mental toughness and fortitude are your biggest strengths. My eyes never lost him as he ran. On the last lap he began struggling and was falling behind, my heart sank. “Go Denim, Push it Son! You got this, don’t give up! Keep pushing! Go Denim! I screamed from the sideline as he rounded the last turn. He was doing it! He found somewhere inside of him something extra and he began to gain ground. The crowd went crazy as they crossed the finish line, most of them falling to the ground in a heap of pure exhaustion. Time stood still and there was a brief moment when everything got quiet as we all waited to hear the results. Then total pandemonium as we heard Denim’s name announced as the winner and the new National Champion.

“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,”‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭12:1‬

The writer of Hebrews describes our life as a race set before a crowd of witnesses almost as if we were in a great coliseum being cheered on by a heavenly multitude. You see, the way in which I was so captivated that day with my son is exactly how God is captivated with us. His eyes never leave us and we never lose his attention. He never loses focus and he never gets distracted. With anticipation he eagerly watches us and cheers us on with words of encouragement. “Don’t give up! You can do it! Greater is he that is within you! You can do all things through Christ! You will mount up with wings as eagles, you will run and not be faint!” Like a loving dad he celebrates in our successes and helps us in our struggles.

It is very easy to get discouraged in life. We have set backs and many times things just doesn’t go our way. We get tired and feel like giving up but remember, God has set his heart on you and you are the apple of his eye.