"And the twelve gates were twelve pearls, each of the gates made of a single pearl, and the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass." Revelation 21:21
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| Grant Brown runs during his school's annual Jogathon when he was six years old. |
On Saturday, July 25th, runners across the nation will join to honor Grant Brown in a virtual race called the Running on the Streets of Gold 5K. In 2013, at the tender age of six, Grant died in a swimming accident. His father, Jeff Brown, said "Grant loved to run. I think about him every day.” This will be the second year for the race put on by the family's church. Brown said, “The important thing about the 5K is it puts money into a scholarship fund that helps promote the values my wife and I were teaching Grant.” The New Covenant School, where Grant attended kindergarten, has set up a scholarship in his name and the money raised in the race will help future students.
Most of us can't imagine losing a child. And as a mother, I can think of nothing in this world that could cause more pain. But Romans 8:28 gives us this promise, "God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them." Everything meaning, as Merriam Webster defines it, every thing there is and all that exists. For those who love Him, that includes tragedies such as this. In fact, God never promised us a life free from troubles but He did promise to be with us through them. And, with that knowledge, no matter what we are facing or have faced, we can have peace knowing God will bring something good out of every situation.
So, on Saturday morning, Jeff Brown will run 3.1 miles in Arlington while others around the country will do the same. Brown said, "My resounding message for the 5K is it’s about helping others. That’s what we were teaching Grant—to help other people.” Helping others? I can think of no better way to honor the memory of Grant Brown or to demonstrate that God can truly cause "everything to work together for the good of those who love God..." Won't you join me for a run?
Heavenly Father, thank you for taking such a tragic event and using it for good. I pray that you fill the Brown family with peace as they honor the death of their son knowing that they will be reunited one day. May this story serve to remind us that you can cause everything-the good, bad and even downright ugly, to work together for good. May we never lose hope in the midst of darkness as we await our turn to run on the streets of gold. It's in your precious name we pray, Jesus. Amen.
Happy Running!!!
Something Beautiful - Steven Curtis Chapman
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