How do you want to finish?

Life is full of choices. We make choices every day, sometimes so often, we don’t even realize we’re making a choice. In the mornings, we make the choice to get out of bed early or sleep in, we chose what we want to eat, and who we want to spend the day with. But sometimes the choices we make run deeper than the day to day routine. Sometimes these deeper choices determine who we are going to be. I think we tend to picture life as a race. And in this race, it is easy to want to be ahead. People will do whatever it takes to beat the person behind them. And I think sometimes in the process of focusing so much on winning we forget to remember how we want to finish and who we want to finish with. When that race is over, does getting first place necessarily mean you really won? When you’re standing at the finish line, who’s standing with you, and how are they looking at you?

People like to win. And there’s nothing wrong with that. It’s just important to remember how you win. When that finish line is crossed or the last point is scored, will you feel like you really deserve it or like you cheated your way to the top? When I finish my life race, I want people to remember me as someone who was kind. I want to have a family who loves me and a well lived happy life. I want to focus less on the wordly ideas of first place. Like having tons of money, the perfect body, or an A in every class. There is nothing wrong with these things, I just simply want them to matter less than the important things. Like faith, hope, and love.

It’s hard not to get caught up in the race. The screaming fans, the opposing team’s scowls, the bright lights, and the glittering medals are all intimidating. They are exciting and they make us want to win. But in the midst of all those things, we find friendship, family, love, growth, and simply life. If we stop and remember how we want to finish the race and who we want by our sides when we do, we discover the importance of the journey. When we rush to win, we miss out on all the things that come with waiting. And we lose the lessons loss brings. Winning isn’t everything friends, I think growing and learning is much more important.

One of my favorite Bible stories is David and Goliath. David was a Shepard and thought of as weak. His brothers were Israelite soldiers who were in a war with the Palestinians. Goliath was a Palestinian giant who was very used to winning. He challenged the Israelites wanting them to send forth a soldier to fight him. David volunteered, and after much consideration, David’s father let him fight. David went to Goliath with nothing but his everyday clothes, 5 rocks and a slingshot. When Goliath saw David, he was offended that this weak man was who they chose to send to him. David told Goliath, you come at me with a sword, but I come at you with the name of the Lord All Mighty. Then, before Goliath had time to even strike David, David launched a rock in his slingshot straight to Goliath’s forehead killing him instantly. David then took Goliath’s sword and cut off his head. David knew that in the end, the goal was not to beat Goliath to show off to his brothers and the Israelites how great and strong he was, but to instead show how great his God was. He gave the glory to God and not to first place. I have always admired David for his humble bravery and faithfulness to the Lord.

So, friends, as you go through life and make choices, I pray you make the ones that mean a little more than winning first place. I pray you think about how you treat people and that you don’t bask in your wins but instead bask in the Lord who gave them to you. I hope you remember that winning is not as fun if you have no one there to share it with you. The journey is long, but important and a chance to grow. When you have faith in who the Lord is and his plan for your life, that’s the real win. So, the next time you are caught up in the race, in the screaming crowds and glittering medals, I hope you look to one who put you there and remember how you want to finish- strong and deserving and surrounded by love. So finish strong friends, and remember who is with you, when you do.

All the love, Annie