The Shackles

(I’ve exchanged my shackles, for these running shoes…)

None of you (and I’m confident saying that) were there the first time I ran a kilometer.  1000 very long meters.  I know that none of  you were there because it was during my gym class in grade two.   The event is engraved onto my memory.

It wasn’t eventful because I finished first, or because it was an epic moment where I realized I was going to be a runner.  No.  I remember it because I hated it.  At the time, I had exercised induced asthma and couldn’t quite manage extensive cardiovascular activity.  As my class ran around the block, I tried – but, it was a struggle.  By the time I finished everyone else had already gone inside- well, except the P.E teacher who was waiting for me.

I’ve gone through fits and starts of attempting to be an athlete… volleyball in high school, I tried swimming in college.  But all in all, the task of doing much above vigorous walking has been difficult.   For quite some time I  carried an inhaler with me, and there was a point where I needed it daily.  As an adult, I’ve settled into a sedentary lifestyle and so, I haven’t used an inhaler for asthma recently. I’m not proud of the fact, its just the way it has been for me.  Like a big heavy set of ankle weights strapped on… that asthma diagnosis has held me hostage.  I was shackled.

Until recently.

A year ago I realized I wasn’t going to be able to lose anymore of the baby weight I had gained in my pregnancies without working out.  We have an elliptical in our family room, so I began exercising.  Initially my effort couldn’t really be described as anything other than delicate.  I didn’t want to push too hard for fear of the unknown. What would happen?  I’ve had enough asthmatic episodes to know I didn’t want to have one without meds on hand.

In January, I made the commitment to train and try to run in a 5K with a group of friends.  Several times I have wondered what in the world I was thinking.  But honestly I came to realize something Friday when I was running at the track.  A song came on in my earbuds.  If you didn’t listen to Christian contemporary music in the 1990’s, you’ve probably never heard the song by Mary-Mary called, “Shackles.”  One of the phrases says, “You took the shackles off my feet so I could dance…I’ve just gotta praise You, I’ve just gotta praise You!”  And at that moment, when I heard those words, everything within my frame of reference came into alignment- from my grade two running failure to the present.

The Heavenly Father was in the process of taking the shackles off my feet – and I realized:

I CAN RUN!

Now I know what you’re thinking…  Some people would not agree that I’ve been healed of asthma.  They would say that I’ve just outgrown it.  But do you know what I think?  I believe that the God of this Universe created me and this earthly body I’m wearing.  And do you know what? It is an amazing piece of work! There was a time I could not go any distance at all.  But today, for the first time I RAN.  I ran THREE MILES in thirty six minutes.  I give HIM the honor and the glory and the praise for  healing my asthma, so that I can run!  I just have to praise Him!

¹⁶ Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.¹⁷ And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.  Colossians 3:16-17

Thank you Heavenly Father, for being a God who answers prayers, who heals our bodies and makes us complete.    May I never take it for granted.  Let my life always give you the glory for everything I’m able to do.  amen.