I was recently reading about a young woman by the name of Kayla Montgomery. I’d not heard of her before, but I found her story moving. Kayla is an American distance runner. She became widely known for competing at a high level after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis as a teenager. She was good! So good that she was given the Gatorade North Carolina Girls Cross Country Runner of the Year award in 2013-14. She ran 3,200m in 10:47.74, a state winning time in high school, and her personal best was 17:33.49 for 5,000m and 35:49.63 for 10,000m.
Remarkable in itself, but even more so when you learn that because of the multiple sclerosis, shortly after starting a race she would lose all feeling in her legs! For the majority of the race, she couldn’t feel them at all! It was simply the momentum that kept her going! Now, apparently that was ok until she got to the finishing line. How do you stop yourself when you cannot actually feel your legs?
That’s where Patrick Cromwell stepped in. Patrick Cromwell was Kayla’s coach, and he was always waiting for her at the finish line, literally waiting to catch her, which was no mean feat! If he hadn’t been there, she would have been in real trouble. He would literally brace himself for the impact and then as quickly as possible lift her into his arms and carry her off the track. Often at that point she was heard to cry, “Help me! Help me! I can’t feel my legs!”
Back in the changing room he would gently place her into an ice bath and as her core body temperate dropped the felling in her legs would slowly return.
Because of him she was able to do remarkable things. What a story!
A Prayer:
Heavenly Father,
We want to be dependable people whom others can trust.
And so we ask,
Just as you ‘catch’ and ‘carry’ us daily,
Give us the strength to ‘catch’ and to ‘carry’ those who need our help.
Help us to serve with humility, compassion and grace.
Please Lord, grant that we might make a difference in the lives of those around us.
May everything we do reflect Your love and bring hope to others.
And when the day comes when you call us home,
Thank you that you will be there to catch us in your arms.
What a day that will be! Our race finished!
Held in your arms, we will sing your praise.
In Jesus’ name
Amen