I'm feeling much more at ease about this than I was at this point two years ago when I was anticipating the 2012 Marathon. I didn't really know what I was doing then. And while it was all fine in the end, I'm happy to be on the other side of it with a little more know-how.
This year is a bit different, as I know what to expect now. And I have a great excitement welling up in me as I remember what it's like to run in the company of tens of thousands of people. Marathons really are a lot of fun (speaking from the experience of running only one, that is).
Also, I'm running as part of relay team, and as such I will be running the second half of the marathon. 13.1 miles is A LOT shorter than 26.2 miles (I'm really good at math!) So I'm feeling great about this!
And this team I am running with- Team Pasadena- we are running for a reason. We are running so that a little boy named Kenny, who has no family to speak for him, can receive a surgery to repair his cleft lip. Kenny is one of the orphans of China, and there are so many more Kennys to speak for than just him. We are doing what we can to be his voice, as an extension of all the work that Love Without Boundaries is doing.
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When I was telling my family about the team running to raise money for Love Without Boundaries, my sweet little brother (who is somehow 10 years old and 45 years old at the same time), immediately said very curiously, and without faltering "I have five dollars, will that help?"
A big, resounding YES!
This little brother probably has about ten dollars to his name to begin with. There are no allowances in the Witzer household.
I want to be more like my little brother. I want to be able to continually say "I don't have much, but you can have it." Because in all reality, what I have isn't mine. Christ has given me everything in my possession.
I want 2014 to be the year of remembering my brother's five dollars. In the midst of paying Los Angeles rent, furiously trying to pay off mountains of student loans, and figuring out thrifty ways to pursue my passions, I want to also give what I have, and give it in love, with the full confidence that Christ will continue to meet every need in Jeremy's and my household.
Who's with me?
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As a footnote, your five dollars can most definitely help Kenny. If you're interested, you can visit Team Pasadena's fundraising page here: http://www.lovewithoutboundaries.com/programs/other-projects/teamlwb/teamlwb-events/m.events_members/634/view/428
Kenny |