I’m standing at the finish line of a half-marathon. I see my daughter, Lovelle, round the final corner of the race. The course ends with a hill, and I watch as she climbs it along with other runners, each step requiring extra effort because of the steepness.
Our daughter is one of the most resilient people I know. She came into our lives when she was twenty after a decade of infertility for us and a lifetime of difficulty for her. She has taught me so much about what it means to be brave and strong. So on this day I do what I have for years now, I cheer her on.
Others around me do the same for their loved ones. Parents cheering on children. Friends yelling encouragement, “You can do this!” Coworkers wearing matching shirts showing up to support one of their own.
I thought of this scene recently with what’s going on in our world. We’re in a race we didn’t train for or expect. Some of us are facing steeper hills than we ever have, like the loss of a job, dream, or someone we love. Many of us are missing milestones, like graduations and weddings. All of us are facing fear and uncertainty, which have always been part of being human.
I wrote Cheering You On: 50 Reasons Why Anything Is Possible with God before COVID-19. I wrote it because my daughter didn’t get to hear the words I wish she had growing up. I wrote it because I now also have a granddaughter and I want her to know as soon as she can that God is her biggest fan. I wrote it because as a life coach, counselor, and author who has engaged with thousands of people I know life isn’t an easy walk in the park.
Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us . . . Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, keeping our eyes on Jesus, the source and perfecter of our faith. For the joy that lay before him, he endured the cross.
Hebrews 12:1-2 (CSB)
Today we are runners in a race none of us would have chosen, one whose finish line we can’t yet see. We’re also, like I was at my daughter’s half-marathon, witnesses to the journeys of others. We can help each other keep our eyes on Jesus. We can trust there is still joy ahead of us. We can, most of all and more than ever before, choose to cheer each other on.
Download a free gift from Holley and DaySpring for you and the people in your life, Cheering You On: 5 Reasons Anything Is Possible with God. You can also find more Covid-19 resources from DaySpring here.
[bctt tweet=”We can help each other keep our eyes on Jesus. We can trust there is still joy ahead of us. We can, most of all and more than ever before, choose to cheer each other on. – @holleygerth” username=”incourage”]
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Holley,
Thanks for a beautiful and encouraging post and the free printable! Mother’s Day weekend is always a hard weekend for me and I needed the extra encouragement. My prayers are with every woman who will struggle through this day…
Blessings,
Bev xx
I have been thinking of you, Bev, as this days approaches. Remember, we can be a mother to more than our biological children. You mother all of us here with your words of encouragement and love. So, Happy Mother’s Day!
Thanks Elizabeth! I know I have many children (all my kids in Pakistan) and surrogate daughters. I am blessed. Thank you for the sweet Mother’s Day wishes. Happy Mother’s Day to YOU!
Love,
Bev xo
Bev,
Praying for you & others on this special mothers’ day. May God intervene on your behalf & have your children call you. May their hearts turn back toward God & away from this crazy world. May God bless you always!
Blessings 🙂
Beth,
Thank you…you are such a faithful prayer warrior. Bless you for all of us you mother well!
Love,
Bev xo
Bev,
Even though I know a part of your story from what you have suffered and what you have shared here snd with me. I don’t know your complete story but I do know that you are here, virtual atms open, heart open and vulnerability on show. You’ve traveled virtually with me in heartache, anxiety, fear and celebration. You have prayed for me and I you. Honestly so many sisters here fo pray for me as they do you. We are a family in a strange way. That’s what incourage is.
So take comfort in that. I am sure you’ll be missing your adult babies. Whatever the division is I ask God to heal it. But first you are their mama and it is Gods hand that will turn their hearts to him, the best you can do is mimick Christ and love on them and give them and you can while heal of Grace.
You are like a virtual cheerleader for me. A comfort and no judgement for us all. I, we wish you a Happy Mother’s Day from New Zealand! You exhibit all the attributes willingly virtually of a mama and I/we appreciate you!❤️
Jaz,
Thank-you for your words of encouragement.
I hope that you have a blessed day and Happy Mother’s Day….
Blessings, to you,
Penny
(I’m sorry that I accidentally sent Bev’s message to you).
Thanks Penny!
Jas,
Thank you…I like this – a “virtual cheerleader” 🙂 I truly appreciate all your love and encouragement here. Reading your words brings joy to my heart. Thanks for your love and prayers. Happy Mother’s Day to you….already!!
Love,
Bev xo
Bev,you are an inspiration and i’mm sorry that you are going through a difficult time. Thank-you for your encouragement over the years.
I hope that you have a blessed day and Happy Blessed Mother’s Day…
Penny
Thank-you Bev,
I hope and pray for you and everyone who is struggling too.
You have always been an encouragement to me and so many others.
I hope that you have a blessed day,
Penny
Thanks so much Penny. Your sweet words touch my heart!
Blessings,
Bev xx
Blessings to you Bev and all Mothers. I am among the Mothers that are not acknowledged by her children. Mother’s day is a painful reminder of being forgotten. God sees , knows and cares for us all. Carol
Happy Mother’s Day Carol. God sees you!
Carol,
Thank-you and I hope and pray that you also have a Happy Mother’s Day…
Blessings to you
Penny
Carol,
There seem to be quite a few of us who are not acknowledged on Mother’s Day. It is a painful reminder. It keeps bringing me back to God and seeking Him instead of results or an outcome. May you be blessed for all the sacrifices you made…
Blessings,
Bev xx
I love the perfect timing of this post. Who knew when 2020 began, that life would take a turn into an unrecognizable world when the calendar flipped into the month of March. Thank you for creating a legacy for your daughter and granddaughter that I can share with my kids and my grandson. We need to hold onto the truth that God is the same in the midst of a pandemic or in a life where we go about our normal routines. Have a blessed Mother’s Day!
Holly we all have our own races to run. We all run at different paces. God see us all at winners in his eyes. God love a trier. He loves us to take our exercise slowly and not to fast. That we don’t get hurt. Some of us as follower of his feel we have too have said this amount of prayers today do this amount of bible reading to get into Gods good books. That is silly. God loves us that we have said prayers and read is word the bible and listen to what the Holy spirit has said through it and applyed it too our lives. But if anyone was to ask us what did we get out of what we just read. We probably say nothing. If we did it thid way. Or in what why did God out that passage you just read did God speak too you don’t know. But I have done my God workout for today. Why are you annoying me with theses questions. You probably said I done both in 15 minutes. Said to yourself. Now I can do what I like. I had my time with God. God I am afraid don’t work like that. As you don’t get very far with God like that. You will not get to hear God cheer you on. God will let you do it that way for so long. Then you will get a time when you need God for something. God will say ah now you need me. Then God will my say to you my Child look at all the other times you rushed through your bible reading time with me and prayer time. Now all of a sudden this need is important now your giving me all your proper attention. If I wanted I could say I am in rush I not got the time to listen to you or help you in your need. But God never does that. Because he God Loves us too much. He God gives us another chance to put things right with him. God cheer us on. With the help of the Holy Spirit God will tell us how to put things right. Make us say sorry if we done it like this. If we got a problem or a important need how to pray and tell him about it. If we need help to Start spending more time in his word the Bible and Prayer. Not rush these things God will help us. The ask the Holy Spirit to retrain us not to run on to quickly. Get out of the message what God wants us to get out of it. So as we can finish the race and know God is there Cheering to do it with the help of his Holy Spirit. Plus apply it our lives. Not just read it for the sake of reading. If we need to have a Prayer partner or a person helping us study the Bible then let them be with us helping us and Cheer us on. So as we don’t give up. Run to quickly to do ourselves that spiritual injury that displeases God as we read the Bible and say our prayers listen to Holy Spirit what it was saying too us. Then be Love today reading. Xxx
Happy Mother’s Day to all
This morning as I played in bed with my soon to be 3 year old great grandson, I realized just how privileged I am.
Sometimes in all the chaos that swirls around us, we forget just how special the moments are – the hiding under the blankets from the bear, the spontaneous laughter that can only come from a free spirited 3 year old.
We humans have such a capacity for life and all that it brings to us. Yet our God has infinitely more. When we focus on Him, and not our troubles, the race before us is like a walk in the park. We can see the flowers, butterflies, birds singing, children playing, along with all the wondrous things He has created and suddenly the hill before us isn’t so steep because we are focused on who is waiting for us at the finish line.
That’s why God gave us moms, our own special cheerleaders.
Happy Mother’s Dag to all. God sees you and loves on you. He is our biggest cheerleader and safety net. Advisor and confidant. May you all be blessed this special Sunday. I pray you are all healthy too!
Jas
I like the sentence, ” I wrote Cheering You On: 50 Reasons Why Anything Is Possible with God before COVID-19″ – who would’ve known we were in for a season like this? Only God! It reminds me of a time when I visited a church MANY years before my world crashed. When my world crashed, I found myself in that church and the best community! This devotion comes at a time where we are all growing restless, tired, and weary. But we have to continue the race. Press on. Stay grounded in Him, no matter how hard it is (because it isn’t). Thank you for blessing us with these many timely words today! Happy Mother’s Day!
Holley,
Here I am cheering you on. Remembering the time you got to adopt Lovelle & how God worked in your life.
A
Holley,
Here cheering you on today. Remembering the story of Lovelle’s adoption & how God worked in your life. This is going to be a different & hard mother’s day for most. We will use zoom & Skype to see our children & grandchildren. Right now, especially, everyone can use a little encouragement. Moms come in all shapes & sizes. I was a “mom” to my aging parents going through mental & medical issues. Also a mom to two iguanas Iggy (Big IG) & Tiny. They are all in Heaven now & I miss them dearly. Praying for & cheering on all women during this pandemic. Life can be much harder when you have to be teacher, cook, work from home, scavenger, etc. So much more to do & no where to go for rest. Moms everywhere go ahead & sit for 10 minutes. Give yourself permission to relax & enjoy nature. Mostly know that you are doing the best job you can with the skills & talents God gave you.
Blessings 🙂
Thank you for your encouraging message Holley, your words are always inspiring.
Praying for you all to have a Happy & Blessed Mother’s Day…
Blessings to all,
Penny
Thank you for all the encouragement. I read that your daughter came into your life at 20, is that through adoption ?
We have had a similar infertility struggle and felt encouraged by this.
Blessings
Thank you it was very thoughtful gift you share with us all I am not a mother but I want to wish every mother—Happy Mother’s day. My mom is gone 42 years and I still think about her—never knew any of my grandmothers