Quit! Give up! Youre beaten They shout at me, and plead. Theres just too much against you now. This time you cant succeed. And as I start to hang my head in front of failures face, my downward fall is broken by the memory of a race. And hope refills my weakened will as I recall that scene. For, just the thought of that short race rejuvenates my being. A childrens race, young boys, young men, now, I remember well. Excitement, sure! But also fear, it wasnt hard to tell. They all lined up so full of hope. Each thought to win that race, or tie for first, or if not that, at least take second place. And fathers watched from off the side each cheering for his son. And each boy hoped to show his dad that he would be the one. The whistle blew, and off they went. Young hearts and hopes afire to win and be the hero there was each young boys desire. And one boy in particular, whose dad was in the crowd, was running near the head, and thought: My dad will be so proud! But as they speeded down the field across a shallow dip, the little boy who thought to win lost his step and slipped. Trying hard to catch himself, his hands flew out to brace and amid the laughter of the crowd he fell flat on his face. So, down he fell, and with him hope. He couldnt win it now! Embarrassed, sad, he only wished to disappear somehow. But, as he fell, his dad stood up and showed his anxious face, which to the boy so clearly said: Get up and win the race. He quickly rose, no damage done, behind a bit, thats all, and ran with all his mind and might to make up for his fall. So, anxious to restore himself, to catch up and win. His mind went faster than his legs; he slipped and fell again! He wished, then, he had quit before with only one disgrace. Im hopeless as a runner now: I shouldnt try to race. But in the laughing crowd he searched, and found his fathers face. That steady look that said again; Get up and win the race. So, up he jumped, to try again, ten yard behind the last. If Im to gain those yards he thought Ive got to move real fast. Exceeding everything he had, he gained eight or ten, but trying so, to catch the lead, he slipped and fell again! Defeat! He lay there silently, a tear dropped from his eye. There is no sense in running more; three strikes, Im out, why try? The will to rise had disappeared; all hope had fled away. So far behind; so error prone closer all the way. Ive lost, so whats the use, he thought, Ill live with my disgrace. But, then he thought about his dad, who, soon, hed have to face. Get up, an echo sounded low, get up and take your place. You were not meant for failure here, get up, and win the race. With borrowed will get up, it said, you havent lost at all. For winning is no more that this; to rise each time you fall. So, up he rose to run once more, and with a new commit. He resolved to win, or lose, at least he wouldnt quit. So far behind the others now, the most hed ever been. Still, he gave it all he had. And ran as though to win. Three times hed fallen stumbling. Three times hed rose again. Too far behind to hope to win, he still ran to the end. They cheered the winning runner, as he crossed the line first place, head high, and proud, and happy. No falling, no disgrace. But, when the fallen youngster crossed the line last place, the crowd gave him the greater cheer for finishing the race. And even though he came in last, with head bowed low, unproud, you would have thought he won the race to listen to the crowd. And to his dad, he sadly said, I didnt do so well. To me, you won! his father said, you rose each time you fell. And now when things seem dark and hard, and difficult to face. The memory of that little boy helps me to win my race. For all of life is like that race. With ups and downs and all. And all you have to do to win is rise each time you fall. Quit! Give up! Youre beaten! They still shout in my face. But, another voice, within me says: GET UP AND WIN THE RACE!
Posted on: Wed, 02 Apr 2014 20:54:39 +0000
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