Oh my goodness! I cannot hardly believe it has been so long since I have written. I did say at the very beginning that summertime would be difficult for the blog and indeed I was correct! It has been a busy but quick summer and school starts next week - can you believe it? I always look forward to the structure of the school year and by the time the first day comes around I am READY - can all of the Mom's out there nod your heads like this?? And truthfully, the kids are ready too they just don't know it yet.
Just this past weekend we wrapped up the summer swim season with the City "A" meet. This is the championship meet where all the top swimmers in the city who have qualifying times come together to compete for the title of "City Champs". Although this is a long way from being the Olympics, to a bunch of kids in central Virginia this is just as important.
My son, Landon, worked so hard this year to make all of his "A" times and he was successful in three of his strongest events. We were very proud of him and the determination that he but forth to set a and goal and go for it! The meet usually comes down to the final relays and so the crowd around the pool is 10 people deep for the last six or seven events. This year the meet was held at an indoor facility so the space around the pool was crowded, humid and loud!
As I stood there cheering for my son and his teammates I had chills up and down my arms and tears in my eyes over the pure excitement of the moment. It was in that moment that I stopped yelling and with baited breath waited to see who would win - it was close, very close. In my silence the roar of the crowd seemed even more deafening and there was an electricity in the air that was almost palpable. Within my heart I thanked the Lord for the privilege of being able to experience the emotion of competition but mainly that of VICTORY. Then, the Holy Spirit reminded me that we will experience that victory again when this life is over. When Jesus comes back on His white horse wearing a robe dipped in blood and His name "King of Kings and Lord of Lords" written on His thigh he will defeat Satan and we as His people will know victory! Can you imagine cheering with the fierceness of knowing that our arch enemy, the great deceiver is going to be conquered? More important than any other victory that you or I have ever known! Life and death, our life, our death secured by THE Victor, Jesus Christ, who tasted death and overcame the grave! What a foretaste of glory divine, faith is the victory, oh, glorious victory that overcomes the world! And through Him we are more than conquerors, we are the victors and we win!! We win beloved, we win!! What a refreshing thought for our weary souls in the midst of the day-to-day burdens of life. Thank You Jesus, thank You!
