Monday, March 16, 2009

A Father's Love for His Son

Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
James 1:2-4 (NASB)




TEAM HOYT:
Dick Hoyt
, DAD, age 65, retired Lieutenant Colonel of the Air National Guard.

Rick Hoyt, SON, age 47, has cerebral palsy and is non-speaking. Strong mind and graduate from Boston University.

In 1977, Rick "told his father he wanted to participate in a five-mile benefit run for a local lacrosse player who had been paralyzed in an accident. Dick, far from being a long-distance runner, agreed to push Rick in his wheelchair. They finished next to last, but they felt they had achieved a triumph. That night, Dick remembers, 'Rick told us he just didn’t feel handicapped when we were competing.' "

That's how their journey began.

For over 30 years, "Dick and Rick Hoyt are a father-and-son team from Massachusetts who together compete just about continuously in marathon races. And if they’re not in a marathon they are in a triathlon — that daunting, almost superhuman, combination of 26.2 miles of running, 112 miles of bicycling, and 2.4 miles of swimming. Together they have climbed mountains, and once trekked 3,735 miles across America."

Please visit and show support by going to Team Hoyt's website: http://www.teamhoyt.com/


Dick, who realizes his son is at his happiest and comes alive whenever they are competing, continues to push, pull and carry his son through hours of rigorous and exhaustive trials.

Why does he do this? Because of his love for his son- He enjoys the life and happiness it brings Rick- He wants to experience life with his son.

Your heavenly Father loves you deeply. He wants to carry you through your toughest trials. When you feel at your weakest, God wants to show you His power. Allow God to help you through your worst races in life. There is salvation waiting for you at the cross. God loves you so deeply that He gave up His only Son, Jesus Christ to die and take away all your sins, all your regrets, and eternal hell so that you can be with Him- eternally.

Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. - John 15:13 (NIV)

God never intended for you to go through life alone. Jesus layed down His life for you and He's conquered all the dirt and filth in our life; all you need to do is invite Him in. Cry out to your Father. Let him know you need Him in your life. Don't wait another day- find victory through Jesus Christ!

Look at this incredible promise:
"Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us" Ephesians 3:20 (NIV)

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7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Great timing on this post. I'm having a really tough day, more so than usual, with very depressing thoughts running through my mind. My escape in the past would cause me to entertain sinful desires, but I'm praying God will forgive me and help me to fight these temptations.

Praise God that He wants to help me in my trials. Thank you for your kind post, my friend.

Heart Like Jesus said...

Dearest friend,

I have prayed for you today. I don't completely know what you are facing, but our loving God does. I pray that He will give you strength as you cast ALL your cares and temptations over to Him.

The Bible says, "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me."

Be strong!

You are loved.

Anonymous said...

I have heard that because of Dick's devotion to his son and doing marathons, he was lacking in devotion to his marriage and it has ended in divorce, do you know if this is true?

Heart Like Jesus said...

Judy and Dick Hoyt divorced in 1994, after 34 years of marriage. There is a clear article about the Hoyt family's marriage and life at Runnersworld.com

To see the full story:
http://www.runnersworld.com/events/boston06/Mag_hoyt.html

Anonymous said...

I've always had a hard time when churches use this video as a part of a Father's Day theme which happens quite often. To me, it's quite sad that this is put up as the perfect example of love the father's love for a son. The love and devotion given to a child should not hurt a wife so deeply that it leads to a divorce. Thanks for including a link to the full story on your blog.

Anonymous said...

In regard to the comment about hurting the wife, it's also sad that she is so angry and bitter now and only sees Rick once every 3 months or so according to that article. She's only hurting Rick by trying to avoid Dick. Sad that they couldn't have worked through their problems by way of counseling. According to that article, sounds like maybe she's a little jealous. Both sides have issues, it's just too bad they couldn't be worked out. I am a wife myself and would have worked very hard at keeping my marriage together.

Anonymous said...

not sure that is the total truth. the wife appeared to be quite a combative and opinionated person in some articles and interviews...may be more to the story than it being dick's fault.