Dear Sissy,

Earlier tonight I wrote about some of the things I learned during my first 5K race.  What I didn't know was that just a couple hours later God would give me an even bigger purpose for my running goals. 

I heard you saw my pictures and asked where my tutu was. I also heard you saw a run in our hometown and asked where I was. What you didn't know was that you asking those questions taught me another lesson in being a role model. You asking those two precious questions has made me decide a couple of things.

Decision #1: I'm going to keep running.

"Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint." Isaiah 40:30-31

Sweet girl, I'm going to keep running for you, for your little brother, for our niece Lilly. I'm going to keep running so that one day you, too, will understand what I am learning. So that you, too, will gain deeper understanding of how important your spiritual race is.

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God." -Hebrews 12:1-2

Sissy, I will keep running so that one day you might understand that there's a finish line even greater that any I will ever cross on earth. One that's greater than we can imagine! I will push myself through every race so that you can see the reward of hard work and perseverance. I will push myself so that one day you will understand that the eternal reward we will get for persevering through life is more than worth it. 

I will keep running so that you can have a visual reminder of Philippians 4:13. "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Because, my dear baby sister, you CAN do all things through Christ because He DOES give you strength. He gives you a strength greater than anything in this world can fathom. And He is bigger and He is stronger than anything this world can throw at you.

Decision #2: I will be wearing a tutu in every race. I don't care how out of place it will look in some runs, I will wear it. I will wear it as a reminder of why I run. I will wear a tutu so you will know why I run. So that you will know I run for you and that one day you will see that you can overcome, too.

I love you sweet girl! Never forget that!

-Ashley