350story

My father, William Eugene Griffith, who I love to the deepest of my heart, passed away
Dec 15, 2005 at age 52 from congestive heart failure. A survivor of three heart attacks,
he was simply changing a flat tire at a local gas station when he experienced a fourth
heart attack, passing away before the ambulance could get him to the hospital. I
wasn't there to witness his death, yet I'd stayed with him one night that October. He
was in such bad condition that he could literally not lie down to sleep. He'd kneel
down beside the bed and try to sleep in that position, because his breathing was so
bad he could not lie down. I could hear him breathing, as I tried to sleep. I could see
him struggling. I didn't know how to sleep. So I turned on one of my fave songs with a
peaceful tune, "Wonderful Tonight" by Eric Clapton. I played this song over and over
and over, until finally I went to sleep. It was difficult, and I knew that night that it
wouldn't be much longer for him.
There is a reason for everything on this earth (Eccl. 3:1), and there was a reason I was
able to be with my dad that one last night...I wouldn't have even gotten to see him if I
hadn't had to get my brakes fixed on my car. There was also a reason for his death...I
now realize that he DID work his entire life for mine and my sister's future. My dad
knew how much I enjoyed running, and that I wouldn't have time to work 4-5 jobs at a
time while trying to enjoy my sport. Thus, he made the sacrifice and worked 4-5 jobs
at a time so that I wouldn't have to. My dad loved me, and spent his entire life working
for the good of me and my sister, Beverly, to the point of his death.
Thus, what more can I be doing but to run 350 miles nonstop, something no other
female has yet conquered, in his memory (and in the month of which I last saw him
before his death)...and to help others who are experiencing heart problems, possibly
congestive heart failure as he had. My dad wanted me to enjoy running. So I will run
350 miles in Oct 2008 for him and for anyone else who is suffering as he did.

Where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord!
As much as I suffer through running, I know that He suffered
on the cross more than I ever will, and He is my #1
motivation every day...to glorify Him through what I love to
do! I thank Him each day for the most wonderful gift I don't
deserve and give Him praise that He so richly deserves for the
strength He gives me, as I push beyond what I think is
possible, knowing nothing is impossible through Him (Phil
4:13)!