The Race

Hey everyone! :) I got a special email from Elder Bryans with a special request. He mentioned that their recent mission conference President Egan shared the poem The Race, and Elder Bryans wanted me to find it and send it to him and then share it with everyone at home. Elder Bryans words: I've heard it [the poem] before, but this time it made me feel like the boy running the race. 

The Race

Whenever I started 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, if not that, at least take second place.
And fathers watched from off the side, 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 sped, as if they were on fire
To win, to be the hero there, was each 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 the shallow dip,
The little boy who thought to win lost his step and slipped.
Trying hard to catch himself, his arm flew out to brace,
And ‘mid 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’d 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 the race!”
He quickly rose, no damage done, behind a bit, that’s all.
And ran with all his mind and might to make up for the fall.
So anxious to restore himself, to catch up and to win,
His mind went faster than his legs. He slipped and fell again.
He wished he had quit before with only one disgrace.
“I’m hopeless as a runner now, I shouldn’t try to race.”

But, in the laughing crowd he searched and found his father’s face.
That steady look that said again, “Get up and win the race!”
So, he jumped up to try again, ten yards behind the last;
“If I’m to gain those yards,” he thought, “I’ve got to run real fast!”
Exceeding everything he had, he regained eight or ten,
But trying so hard to catch the lead, he slipped and fell again.
Defeat! He lay there silently, a tear dropped from his eye.
“There’s no sense running more. Three strikes, I’m out…why try?”
The will to rise had disappeared, all hope had fled away.
So far behind, so error-prone, a loser all the way.
“I’ve lost, so what’s the use?” he thought, “I’ll live with my disgrace.”
But, then he thought about his dad, who soon he’d have to face.

“Get up,” an echo sounded low, “Get up and take your place.
You weren’t meant for failure here; get up and win the race.”
With borrowed will, “Get up,” it said, “You haven’t lost at all,
For winning is no more than this–to rise each time you fall.”
So up he rose to win once more. And with a new commit,
He resolved that win or lose, at least he wouldn’t quit.
So far behind the others now, the most he’d ever been.
Still, he gave it all he had, and ran as though to win.
Three times he fallen, stumbling, three times he 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 crossed the finish line, last place,
The crowd gave him the greater cheer for finishing the race.
And even though he came in last, with head bowed low, unproud,
You would have thought he won the race, to listen to the crowd.
And to his dad, he sadly said, “I didn’t do so well.”
“To me you won,” his father said, “You rose each time you fell.”

And now when things seem dark and bleak and difficult to face,
The memory of that little boy helps me in my own race.
For all of life is like that race, with ups and downs and all.
And all you have to do to win is rise each time you fall.
And when depression and despair shout loudly in my face,
Another voice within me says, "Get up and win that race!"


It is so important to recognize that in this life we will all be wounded, and we will all fail. But we cannot give up. We must press forward recognizing our shortcomings and allowing the Savior to turn our weaknesses to strengths. With Him all things are possible and we can complete this race. And enter the loving embrace of our Heavenly Father who is waiting for us at the finish line.  


*update; All this week I have been struck with frustration and discouragement. I felt overwhelmed with my weaknesses and with the struggle of changing times. And last night I felt deeply like the young boy fallen to the ground, and I faced the decision of if I would rise up or stay down. I think during these times we show who we truly are and who we want to be. I am grateful for the wisdom of my brother is asking me to read and share this poem. And I am grateful for a loving Heavenly Father who knows me and what I need even before I do. I know that with Him we can overcome all things and will never be abandoned or forgotten by Him. I know that when struggles come we need to turn towards the Lord, ask Him for help and comfort and guidance. To all of you struggling: You are not forgotten, you are loved, you are important. You can turn to the Lord and He will help you. Hang in there, it will get better.