One Choice Away

"Your only ONE choice away from a Different Life."

I try to get up early to enjoy a quiet cup of coffee before all the chaos of the Harless homes wakes. I curl up on the chair and enjoy the sweet sound of nothing. My coffee cup rest between my fingers and the creamy nectar gives me great pleasure.

Then Craziness ensues. Everyone's making a mad dash for the their bibles, keys, toothbrushes. Running late, like every Sunday.

Sunday is supposed to be a day of rest but it is one of our busiest days. I have a long run after church. I am always scrambling for more time every Sunday. There is always a little voice that says, "Just SKIP, then you can run earlier, you can relax, you will have more time."

BUT, I CHOOSE CHURCH FIRST.

I am so grateful that God has given me legs to run. He has given me breath to breath. He has given me passion but he also has given me the opportunity to CHOOSE.

I have so much to be thankful for and I owe it ALL to God. Its a CHOICE, Its making the CHOICE.

I have seen the power in making those choices, in my marriage, in my home, in my health, in my kids.

I was so thankful I didn't listen to the voices this morning. I laughed so hard at church. We had a comedian who had me "Laughing Out Loud" This is the title of his series.

Todays message was titled "Your only ONE Choice away from a Different Life."

It really had me thinking. There were so many BAD choices I made and it mostly produced BAD results.

But most of my good choices really did present good results, NOT all the time. But the results really were in my favor when I made good choices.

On my run next to Lacey I thought of some of the good choices I have made. Lacey, was one of them. I have some incredible friendships. I am so blessed by great friends. I thought these same thoughts when I was running with Danielle on Thursday.

I picked Lacey up to run a different route. She really does love me because it was another HILL route.

NOT A GOOD CHOICE.

It was good for me because I need the elevation but Lacey, not so much. And to add injury to insult Lacey was under the weather.

She doesn't complain, she just doesn't talk.

The last 3 miles I didn't hear much more than a peep from her.

Even as we finished the only thing she said was "I am Done with YOUR miles!"

My distance was about a tenth ahead of hers.

My Garmin beeped, 16 miles. "Let's Go Lacey, Finish it OUT..."

She stayed right next to me. She never quit. She is not a quitter. I knew she would be so happy if she chose to finish the whole thing out. I knew it sucked, I knew she was exhausted, I knew she is amazing and really even though her body wanted to cheat those last few hundred feet her mind didn't.

She finished.

We Finished.

She was bent over the curve, light headed and sore.

But she was happy in a weird way.

Less than an hour later I got a text  "...thanks for always pushing me."

I was so happy she still loved me!

My close friendships bring so much into my life. They make me a better person. I am very blessed.

You wanna make good choices? Whos is in your circle? Start there. Surround yourself with inspiration, encouragement, love, support, laughter. Surround yourself with people that will encourage you to make good choices, people that make good choices themselves.

RUNDOWN:

Distance: 16.17

Time: 2:28

Pace: 9:11

Anita