I have fought the good fight

My son, my daughter, Paul wrote these words near the end of his life, weary, imprisoned, knowing his body couldn't take much more. He didn't say he had won every battle without a scar, or that the journey had been easy. He said he had fought, he had run, he had kept the faith up to that point.

I want you to learn from this that persevering to the end isn't about never growing tired; it's about continuing to fight even while tired, continuing to run even with body and soul aching. One day you too will be able to look back and say: I fought, I ran, I kept the faith. It doesn't matter if some stretches were dragged out, imperfect, made with tears.

Today, wherever you are in your own race of faith, I want to encourage you to keep fighting the good fight, the one that's worth it, the one that builds up instead of tearing down. The crown that awaits those who persevere to the end is reserved, with tenderness, for you too.