Run your own race

In our Sunday School class, we are discussing the Lenten sermons entitled The Intentional Journey of following Jesus. Last week Char talked about renewing ourselves when we have stalled or lost sight of our journey. She said a lot of great things but one thing in particular really struck me and has come back to me often this past week. She was comparing our journey with God to running a marathon (she's a runner...not me) and that every runner hits the wall at sometime in their race. Your job is to decide what to do when you hit the wall...keep pushing through or quit the race. The thing she said that really hit me was, "Run your own race". You can't keep pace with the people around you...you have to run the race that God has set before you. Rev Meyer said a similar thing yesterday morning when he talked about Jesus' conversation with Peter after he had revealed Himself to them. Peter asked him about one of the other disciples and what he was supposed to be doing and Jesus' answer to him was, "what concern is that of yours? You follow me!” (John 21:22)
This is true in our everyday lives but for me it especially brought to mind the adoption journey. It is so easy to look at the journey of others and feel jealous or angry about other peoples' process moving faster or easier than my own. I haven't had this issue yet during this adoption but certainly did during Andrew's. My child is out there...probably not even born yet...and will come home exactly when he is supposed to. I am going to try very hard to run my own adoption race this time through and not worry about what is going on in the process of others.