biggest donation yet

Have you read the story of the widows mite? How all the people were so impressed with the Pharisees who gave so much to the Temple? Then Jesus, this watchful Lord who doesn't miss a thing, points out what none of the disciples had seemed to notice...a poor old woman, quietly slipping two pennies into the offering. And He said she gave the most, because she gave all she had to live on and was left with only her faith. Her faith that God loved her and would provide for her needs...
I love that story!

There is a reason God says we must become as little children to enter the kingdom. They have faith like that, naturally. So sweet Caitlin, my five year old niece, believes that Aunty can run. She draws me beautiful pictures full of rainbows and flowers and big pink hearts, with her new printing all in capitals, words running together exuberantly, "BRENDAILOVEYOU".

Caity ran in a race at her preschool last spring, a fundraiser for the school. I happily signed up to sponsor, expecting her tiny little legs to go about 5 or 6 laps. Let me tell you, that child doesn't have much quit in her! She outran all the girls in her class, and most of the boys. She went around 21 times! Anne tried to let me off the hook, to have me pay less then I had pledged, because who knew a 4 year old could run that much?! But I wrote the check, because hey-she did it, I was proud of her and it was a great cause.

Now Caitlin is sponsoring her Aunt in a few laps. Since May, she has been feeding her piggy bank nourishing quarters and fat snacks of pennies, until it almost burst. Breathless with excitement on the phone, Caity exclaimed "and Cody (her almost 2 years brother) can't EVEN lift it!" Her parents helped her empty and count all that change and it came to a whopping $11.49. When you are five? That is a fortune.
It is money for the ice cream truck going by.
A bag full of shiny plastic fun from the Dollar Store.
New, fat crayons with unbroken tips and a couple of Princess color books.

She sent it ALL to the Lymphoma and Leukemia Society.

She called me on the phone to tell me and her sweet, high innocent voice coming across the line made my heart seize up a little bit.
Sometimes my motivation to do all this gets low. (Have you noticed?!)

I know three people who have died from blood cancers, and I forget now and then to think of them and their kids, left behind.
I forget about all the patients hooked up to IVs, with chemo dripping into veins.
I forget that each penny given is making a difference, is helping someone live another glorious day.
Sometimes, and it's usually about mile 4, all of my big shiny faith that God really wants me on this journey? It starts to congeal into despair. Then it starts a low slide down my back, and settles into my socks. I lose faith in myself and always, always what starts the panic is when I get wondering "If 4 miles feels like THIS, how will I add 9 more to it?"
This morning, when that starts to happen?
I am going to think of Cait-o.
I am going to remember she has faith in me.
I am going to think of all the cancer patients I don't know, who need those piggy banks busted open and sacrificed.
and I'm going to run.