a year in the making.

if you told me this time last year, that i would have participated in five different races in one year, i would have laughed in your face. i am ever grateful for the ability to run. and i’m thankful for the motivation that i’ve received from family and friends, but also the motivation inside of myself that grew.

i didn’t like running, it’s a love/hate relationship with me. i love running because it makes me feel better; the feeling after a run is exhilarating — be it one mile or five miles. i hate running because i don’t have the motivation all of the time. i don’t always have the will to get myself out and off a chair to get outside. i love running because it relieves stress and it allows me to get outside and clear my head. i hate running because i’m not the fastest at it, but my God i love running because it’s pushed me so far and i’ve come a long ways from before! do you get the point? 

running is amazing and if you have the ability to experience it, i would definitely recommend it {did i, megan, just say that?! — shocker} you will grow, you will discover yourself on the runs and you will find that motivation deep inside of you. but, goodness, do it for yourself, and no one else. do it because you strive to be healthy, mentally and physically. 

i’m ever grateful for that journey of seeking motivation to come to where i am today. it’s been 13 months in the making, and i’m sure i’ve got plenty more ahead of me. there will be days where i don’t feel like running — like today, but i’m already dressed and about to head out the door. push through it & you’ll thank yourself in about thirty minutes. 

Matthew 6:25-34

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

And why do you worry about your clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

We read this last night, as a part of large group’s sermon. It really hit home as things shift from the busyness of school, to summer. I will be the first to admit that I do worry about the future.

I do worry — how am I going to build up my savings account {prepping for getting out of college} when I only work all of 12 hours in a week? How am I going to make it, paying my “bills” monthly, when I can barely get by pay-check to pay-check. 

I do worry about school. I’ve had my set-backs in college, learning lessons, and I am “paying” for them. As much as I would love to be done next year, I will most likely be going an extra year or so. It’s not ideal, but it’s something I’m learning to cope with. 

And I was reminded last night that I need not worry, for He already knows what is on my heart. He knows the things that I really need. It’s a marvelous thing, you know? If only I can recognize that all of the time. And I was reminded that when worrying comes my way that I only need to pray — recognize the good in the situation, praise Him for that, and ask Him to help me through this struggle. Grant-it, it’s much easier said than done. But there is definitely truth to that. If I take the time to pray, just be still, and pray, be it every five minutes that I need to rejuvenate my faith or every few hours, etc. I need to pray. And by doing this, you’re slowly letting God take control of the situation {this will be hard for those area’s of my life that I am a control-freak about} and the worrying will subside. 

I got to thinking this morning, as I reread that passage, and I think I’m going to take on this challenge. I didn’t give my life to Him for no reason, I gave it to Him to take ownership — it’s about time I start letting Him take control again.