THE RACE
Quit, give up, your beaten, they shout out and plead
There is just too much against you now.
This time you can't succeed.
And as I start to hang my head in front of failure's face
My downward fall is broken by the memory of a race,
And hope refills my weakened will as I recall that scene
for just the thought of that short race rejuvenates my being
A children's race
Young boys, young men now I remember well,
Excitement sure, but also fear, it wasn't hard to tell.
They all lined up so full of hope
Each thought to win the race
Or tie for first, or if not that at least take second place.
And fathers watched from off the site
Each cheering for his son
And each boy hoped to show his dad that he would be the one.
The whistle blew and off they went young hearts in hopes of fire
To win, to be the hero there was each young boy's desire
And one boy in particular, his dad was in the crowd
Was running near the lead and thought
My dad will be so proud.
But as he speeded down the field across a shallow dip
The little boy who thought to win
Lost his step and slipped
Trying hard to catch himself, his hands flew out to brace
Amid the laughter of the crowd he fell flat on his face.
So down he fell, and with him hope, he couldn't win it now.
Embarrassed, sad, he only wished he could disappear somehow.
But as he fell, his dad stood up and showed his anxious face
Which to the boy so clearly said "get up and win this race".
He quickly rose, no damage done, behind a bit that's all
And ran with all is mind and might to make up for his fall.
Still he gave it all he had and ran as though to win
Three times he'd fallen stumbling, three times he'd rose again
Too far behind to hope to win he still ran to the end.
They cheered the winning runner as he crossed the line first place
Head high and proud and happy,
No falling, no disgrace,
But when the fallen youngster crossed the line last place,
The crowd gave him the greater cheer for finishing the race,
For all of life
Is like that race with ups and downs
And all we have to do to win
Is rise to our heavenly father each time we fall,
Quit, give up, your beaten, people shout in my face,
But another voice within me says, "Get up and win this race".