BY BRANDY DAVENPORT, CO-BLOGGER
What does it take to finish a marathon? I’m not a runner myself, but I admire those who are. When I ask that question to an avid runner, they say they build up time every week until the day of the race. They don’t go out on day one and run a half marathon. Instead, each day has a goal to achieve to help them build endurance over time.
That applies to the life of someone with diabetes, and also to the person caring for someone with diabetes, too. It’s a long race, this diabetes condition. We have daily goals to achieve so that we can run the marathon of this chronic illness well.
MY LONG RACE FOR MY SON
My goal as a mom caring for my son who has type 1 is to teach him over time to carry the baton for himself. To take one day at a time, building up his endurance. Ultimately, he will reach the end of his race knowing he did the best he could to care for his body.
Sure, maybe one day he will look back and I won’t be there, but he will remember that baton never hit the ground. It was passed with the strength of the Lord. Without Him I could not endure the sleepless nights, the questioning of what I could have done better, and the thoughts of things too far ahead.
Hebrews 12:1 says, “Let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.”
This verse reminds me that I cannot go the long way and run a good race carrying all the things that can go wrong with this disease. I must give this particular baton to the Lord. Then He takes that baton and carries it the rest of the way. I am so thankful our Lord runs this marathon with us.
What extra weight are you trying to run with while living with this disease? What can you give to the Lord to carry?
They who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.
Isaiah 40:31
Do you wait for the Lord so He can take the baton?
What makes you grow weary?
Whether we run or walk, scripture says we won’t grow weary and will not faint. Friend, there are days when I feel tired and alone in caring for my son, but I realize I am holding that baton so tightly I won’t let the Lord take it. I know this holds me back. But once I release my grip, the wind is at my back, and I am released to fly like that eagle.
Here’s what helps me run lighter:
- I delegate tasks to my husband and my son. I have never liked changing pump sites, so that is solely my husband’s job. My son is in charge of fetching all the supplies and getting everything set up for success.
- All the diabetes supplies are set to automatically renew, so I don’t have to remember to call it in or worry we will run out.
- I continue to teach my son how to take ownership for this disease. Small thing after small thing really can add up over the long term.
- When I can’t figure something out, I email his nurses. They are a plethora of knowledge!
- I pray every morning as I walk my son to the bus stop. I pray for God to watch over him and equip the school nurse to care for him as I do.
This disease can make our lives feel like we’re going the long way. If we start out sprinting each day, we will soon be burned out. But if we run slow and steady, we will cross that finish line with our hands up praising the Lord that He was there every step of the way!
Dear God, thank You for your mercies that are new every day as we run this marathon of a race. Thank you for Your presence right beside me as I run this race each and every day. God, I pray You would remind me to approach this long path with a slow and steady mentality. Help me to build endurance over time by doing my best and turning everything over to You. Amen.
For Further Reading: Matthew 11:28-29, Proverbs 18:10
