Sunday, July 26, 2015

Train a child

"Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6


On July 12, River Nuzzo, 15, and his stepfather, Dean McGovern, served as the 4 hour pacers at the Missoula Marathon. If running 26.2 miles in four hours or less wasn't hard enough, consider it was also River's first marathon. When he approached his stepfather, an experienced ultramarathoner, with the question of whether he thought he could complete a marathon, Dean responded, "Of course you can run a marathon! I would love to help you train for one.” Dean, already registered as a pacer, asked his stepson to be his pacing partner. He knew that if River tried to run this distance at his normal 7:00 per mile pace, he wouldn't last. But, if he could slow him down to the 9:00 pace required to finish in 4 hours, he would have a better chance of finishing. And finish they did, in 3:59:07.

I love this story. Dean McGovern knows running. And, as such, he passed that same love on to his stepson. He also knew how to train him and get him to the finish line because he, himself, had done so on many occasions. The bible tells us that we are to "train up a child in the way he should go". To be a trainer, though, requires that we know the subject we are teaching. And is there any greater subject than Jesus Christ?

Are you training your children or stepchildren in the way they should go? Maybe you don't feel qualified to do so? Or don't feel you know enough about the Subject to teach others? Then there's great news! Everything you need to know can be found in the Bible, the ultimate training manual, 

Heavenly Father, thank you for giving us your Word to not only keep us on track, but to allow us to teach our children your words and to train them in the way they should go. Help us to diligently train ourselves that we might have the knowledge to train others, especially the children you have entrusted to us. It's in your precious name we pray, Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!!!

Child of God - Kathryn Scott


 

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