Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Philippians 2:3-4

Whose Pace?

A recent Saturday morning found me in a familiar setting – waiting near the finish line of a race. Though the location has varied over the years, I’ve reveled in cheering on my daughters and granddaughters to finish strong in 5ks, 1-mile fun runs, and tot trots.

On this particular Saturday, my daughter, Mary, and her daughters, Lyla (12) and Emma (10), were running in a 5K to benefit a local charity. Though Emma has a lot of heart and enthusiasm, she usually completes a 5K by walking, running, and skipping, with Mary matching her pace.[1] But this time, Mary wanted to run the entire race, so her son, Joshua, planned to walk the course as Emma’s “sweeper.”

I kept checking the time clock, my gaze shifting between it and the course. As the minutes ticked by, I grew concerned. Even if she wasn’t keeping a PR pace, Mary should have finished. Then I saw her, rounding the corner with Emma. It turned out Emma didn’t want to risk being alone on the course, even though her brother was close behind. As they approached the finish, Emma sprinted across, leaving her mom behind. Mary graciously put Emma’s interests above her own and walked/ran the race with her, even though Emma made it clear she was going to cross the finish line first, which she did.

Imperishable Medals

Much to our delight, Emma came in first in her age group and was awarded a shiny medal for her efforts. When the winners in Mary’s age group were announced, my daughter and I exchanged a knowing look. If Mary had run the race as she’d planned, she, too, would have received a medal. Her willingness to accompany Emma cost her the medal, but Mary earned a better prize, namely her daughter’s confidence in her support.

When I saw her later, Mary mentioned that Emma said her medal belonged to both of them. I’m glad she recognized that and hope Emma will acknowledge and appreciate her mother’s sacrifices and care more often than not.

Mary wasn’t the only one who put someone else’s needs before her own. Lyla, a capable and accomplished runner, chose to run with a friend and even paused as they neared the finish line so they could cross together. That decision cost Lyla a medal, too, but her friend’s wide smile and warm embrace as they slowed to a stop were Lyla’s reward.

And Joshua faithfully walked the course, bringing up the rear in case anything happened to his little sister, though he would much rather have been at home helping his dad put the finishing touches on their entries for the BBQ contest later that day. By the time he finished, all of us were assembled at the finish line to cheer him across.

I’m proud of each one of them. They may not have received a tangible medal, but they made deposits into their heavenly accounts of imperishable treasures (Matthew 6:19-21).

Mothers are Like That

As I thought about the events surrounding the race, the phrase “mothers are like that” came to mind. I vaguely remembered it was from a commercial from my childhood. A quick Google search confirmed it was a 1963 commercial for Bayer’s children’s aspirin. A little boy named Mike went to see if his friend Josie could come out and play. When Josie’s mother said Josie wasn’t feeling well but should be better soon because she’d given her the aspirin, Mike said, “That’s what my mother gives me.” Josie’s mother replied, “That’s because she loves you. When you feel better, she feels better.” Her statement prompted the famous line, sweetly spoken by little Mike, “Mothers are like that. Yeah, they are.”

Taking that stroll down memory lane reminded me of one of Mom’s statements, “When you hurt, I hurt,” which in turn brought to mind a description I read soon after Mary was born: “Being a mother is like having your heart walk around in another person.”

A Greater Love

Becoming a mother helped me begin to understand God’s great love for me. Yet even the most selfless mother would stop short of sacrificing her child for another. The mere thought makes me shudder, yet that’s exactly what God did for us (John 3:16).

I’m not naive enough to believe all mothers are kind, caring, and selfless. If yours isn’t, remember that God loves you. If she is, remember that God loves you even more. In either case, God loves us so much that He sent His only Son, our selfless Savior, to die for us so we can be with Him forever. Remember!

Dear reader, if God blessed you with the gift of a godly mother, thank Him. And, if she’s still alive, be sure to thank her, too!

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[1] Please see “Chief Cheerleader” for additional details:https://patsykuipers.com/2023/11/19/chief-cheerleader/