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    Glenn Cunningham was born on a Kansas farm and educated in a one-room schoolhouse. He and his brother were responsible for keeping the school’s fire going. One morning as the boys poured kerosene on the live coals to get the fire started before school, the stove blew sky high.

    Glenn rushed toward the door, but realized his brother had fallen and wasn’t moving. He rushed back to help, suffering terrible burns in the process. In the end, his brother died, and Glenn was hospitalized with severe burns on his legs.

He was determined to walk again.

    The tragedy seemed to mark an end to Glenn’s dream of running track. Still, he was determined to walk again — which the doctors had said wouldn’t happen — but he did! Then, he began to run. Through many periods of discouragement and disappointment Glenn kept running, ever faster. He mastered the mile. Eventually, he set his sights on the international record for his distance, and he broke it! He finally held the world record of his dreams.

    What kept Glenn running? He dedicated his races to the memory of his brother, as was determined to transform the greatest tragedy of his life into a blessing. He may have had scarred legs, but he had a whole heart.

    As Christians, you and I can accomplish what we desire in life, if we have the courage to pursue it. In 1 Chronicles 28:20 it is written “Be strong and courageous, and act; do not fear nor be dismayed, for the Lord God, my God, is with you...” (NASB).

    Today, let’s petition God to give us the courage to transform our lives and to serve as a blessing to the lives of those we encounter.