Running the race.....

So today our kids had their AWANA Grand Prix Race.  First one up was Katie's car.  The count down starts 5....4.....3.....2.....1...........the cars are released and within 3 secs the race is over.  That is except for the good old Dora car.  As I watched it slow down all I could think was keep going, oh no don't stop.  But sure enough that little sucker never did get to pass the finish line.  Oh I felt so bad for her.  Her next time up I thought oh really do we even need to do this again.  Ok here we go.......5......4......3.....2......1....... release.........Oh go Dora go and slowly but surely that little car passed that finish line.  It may not have been the fastest and the most exciting finish but it finished!  It may have been last place but it finished and you know what you would never have known by looking at Katie that her car was last.  She enjoyed ever minute of just having her car there and cheering on everyone.

Looking at this I think of my kids and how I get so caught up on the steps it takes for them to get from point A to point B.  I think of, man look how they can't keep up with that one running or look how they struggle to do this or that.  I feel bad when they are on the outside looking in on a group that they are not able to do what they can.   I really need to take a step back and instead think.  Wow that is awesome that they may not have gotten this or that right away but look how sweet the victory is when they did get it.  I need to see that so many times these situations are so much harder on mommy than on them.  I need to see that it doesn't matter how fast you run that race of life but that you are proud of your finish!!!!