Jesus and his disciples need to feed a lot of people but there is no where around to get food. The disciples kind of throw their hands up in the air and say "We don't have enough for everyone..this is impossible." Someone notices the lunch of a little boy, but it only has a couple fish and 5 loaves of bread inside. The little boy gives it to Jesus and the rest is history.
I've always focused on the miracle itself when I think about that event. But this morning when I was reading, I kept going back to the little boy. He offered up what must have seemed like nothing in regards to feeding the whole group. At the same time it was actually everything that little boy had. I'm sure he didn't know what was coming in the moment he handed it over, but what an amazing thing to see what Jesus did with what little he had to offer.
Sometimes I feel like all I have to offer is just not enough, so why even bother? Why eat right this meal when I know I blew it this morning? Why clean the bathroom when the rest of the house is a wreck? Why do _______ when I know I am completely unqualified? I'm sure someone can relate to this way of thinking.
Well, today as I was running my furthest distance to date, 6 miles, I began thinking about the little boy again. I could see myself in him. When I first began running I could only do a quarter mile at a time. It wasn't much compared to the others on the treadmills around me running for what seemed like hours on end. I was tempted at times to quit because my few minutes of exercise seemed so futile. Like, what could running this little bit even do for me?
But, I did it anyway. I kept bringing my measly lunch to Jesus over and over again, week after week, day after day. Eventually the quarter turned into a whole and the whole into 2, then 3, then 4, and so on. He took my offering and multiplied it beyond my wildest dreams.
So, yeah-- The miracle still blows me away. But what blows me away even more I think, is the tiny little offering that made it possible.
P.S. On the topic of miracles...When I began training for the half marathon, I also began praying that God would miraculously heal my knee. About 2 months ago I could hardly do a 5K without being in excruciating pain from an injury in 2009. Can I tell you? I ran the entire 6 miles today without noticing knee pain even once. Don't even try to tell me God didn't do that.
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4 comments:
THANK YOU! I needed to hear this post today. Last night I walked/jogged a mile for the boot camp I have been doing... and honestly I just wondered if I was ever going to make it to running a mile, but I can and this post made me believe it! God does work miracles and for that we have so much to be grateful for!
We are weak, but we can be strong. I know exactly what you mean by feel like your offering is so small that it probably doesn't matter, but it does. Got has promised that if we give him all we can then he will make up the difference. WOW! Thank you so much for this reminder!
Girl, I just stumbled across your blog today and I must say... You are an inspiration! I just might stumble across your blog more often now. :)
This post has probably been the one that has resonated with me the most. I always compare myself to what others are able to physically do, and my measly workouts seem so pointless. I finally see that, yes...in my own power, they probably are. But if I give each and every one of them to my Savior, my Provider, my Great Physician, my All in All, that HE can turn them into something worthwhile, beneficial. He can provide the strength for one minute longer on the arc trainer, or one more set of reps on the leg press. Thank you for sharing your journey. I'm at least a year behind you, but starting at almost the same point (plus, a decade in age, but who's counting?)
Blessings,
Dana
Keelie this post pretty much brought me to tears! I have been running on my treadmill for about a month now and I really want to run a 5K but I can't get past 2 miles before I feel like I am going to pass out... Then last night I was thinking back when I started and I couldn't even run a half mile or 2 minutes for that matter, now I am running 2 miles without stopping - that may seem small to some but that is HUGE for me and right now that is all if have. I love, love, love how you related the boy with the fish to your running - I have heard that story hundreds of times and I never once thought about the boy in that way. THANK YOU for letting God use you to help others going through the same things you are - you truly are a great example!
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