Last Place

Matthew 19:30 (NIV) “But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.”

We participated in a family hike at church camp this summer. My husband and I helped Mary Addison along the trails and up steep inclines. Soon, the rest of the families were so far ahead, they were out of sight. We kept telling Mary to turn back. No. She wanted to make it to the top. The kids who had raced to the top were now on their way back down – then something wonderful happened. A little group began to gather to help and encourage Mary. As this little band of encouragers grew, we began to sing and our pace quickened. Our group collected more and more of the straggling parents who had just started back down. In the final steep stretch everyone was yelling, “Come on, Mary, you can do it!” and when we reached the top a cheer exploded from the crowd. A grand, emotional celebration with hugs and back slaps all around. We all bonded in love and joy and victory – all because Mary wasn’t afraid of being slowest and last. His power IS made perfect in our weakness.