Shawnda Martin is a freshman and a super special teenage girl. She is an incredible runner but the fun part has been watching her improve SO much since I've known her and it's due to the fact that she is SO disciplined in her workouts, the way she eats, the time she sleeps, and simply being coachable! More than that, I love to hear and see her change spiritually.
This cross country season, Shawnda has been the #1 runner in the conference. As the race began last Wednesday, Shawnda was in the lead with Hayesville runner closely following behind her (which is usually the case). After the first mile, I was waiting patiently to see Shawnda coming around the corner and suddenly she took a wrong turn on the course right before my eyes. What was astonishing is - so many people were watching and literally gasped for breath but noone said anything except me being the CRAZY coaches wife. I yelled at the top of my lungs "SHAWNDA TURN AROUND." I had 100 thoughts going through my head at the same time but knowing if I didn't scream, she had no idea she had cut a corner off the course and that she would finish the race disqualified. Katie on the other hand (the girl following closely behind her) went the correct way. Shawnda heard me and turned around to see me jumping and screaming for her to turn around and go back. By this point you could see the panic upon her face because she had no idea what she had done. It was an easy mistake. She runs back down and takes the correct turn and she is obviously 15 seconds or so behind the Katie at this point.
I began to pray. Not for Shawnda to win - that's not how I choose to pray. How will she handle this? Will she let one wrong turn defeat her? Will she allow a mistake to overcome her and just give up? Will she tell herself there is NO WAY she can win now because she messed up? Lord, help her to focus on YOU. Lord, help her to see she runs for an AUDIENCE OF ONE! Lord, please protect her thoughts in this moment. Lord, help her to be an OVERCOMER and not just give up because she made a mistake! Lord, help her to perfect her weakness! I know YOUR power is made perfect in our weaknesses.
I called Rance who was on the other side of the course to let him know what happened. You see, you have to know Shawnda but let's just say this was a time she could overcome her weakness in racing. Did God ordain Shawnda to make a wrong turn? ABSOLUTELY. We are down to the last mile and Shawnda is around 7 seconds behind Katie at this point. Both girls are killing it.
It came down to the last stretch which is literally the length of a football field. My heart was beating out of my chest. I want more than anything for this to be a learning moment for Shawnda spiritually. Every spectator at that race was zoned in to what was taking place. All of a sudden, it was as if a light switch turned on in Shawnda. Holy Spirit are you speaking?!? Did she decide a wrong turn would not overcome her? I had no idea what was going on in Shawnda's head & heart but I watched her increase her speed and give it her all like NEVER before and in the last SECOND before the finish line she passed Katie and won the conference title!
Without going into too much detail, this was a life changing race for Shawnda and a race I will never forget. It wasn't about her winning the race but how often do we allow things to control our mind and thoughts and we end up defeating ourselves instead of being an overcomer when things do not go as we planned?! I love what the Lord does behind the scenes to perfect our weaknesses.
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| At the start of the race! Shawnda in the lead with Katie following right behind her. |
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| Victory picture after the race! |
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| Rance and I re-acting the excitement! |
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| yea, we are crazy I know! |
Do you/I choose to live a defeated life (being controlled by everything on the outside) or do you/I live life as an overcomer for the Lord Jesus (being completely controlled by Him)?!
Thank you Lord that Shawnda made a wrong turn!
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