A Father Who Wouldn't Stay in the Stands

On August 3, 1992, British sprinter Derek Redmond lined up for the 400-meter semifinal at the Barcelona Olympics. He had trained his entire life for this moment. When the gun fired, he surged forward — until halfway around the bend, his right hamstring snapped. Derek crumpled to the track, clutching his leg, his Olympic dream shattered in an instant.

What happened next became one of the most replayed moments in Olympic history. As medical staff approached with a stretcher, Derek waved them off. He pulled himself up and began hopping toward the finish line, his face twisted in agony. Then a large man in a T-shirt pushed past security and burst onto the track. It was Jim Redmond — Derek's father.

Jim wrapped his arm around his son's waist. Derek buried his face in his father's shoulder and sobbed. Together, they limped down the final stretch while 65,000 people in Montjuic Stadium rose to their feet. Jim whispered, "We started this together, and we're going to finish it together."

That is the kind of love the Apostle Paul describes — love that bears all things, endures all things, and never fails. Our Heavenly Father does not watch our suffering from the grandstand. He comes down. He pushes past every barrier. He wraps His arm around us in our brokenness and says, "We will finish this together."

You have never limped alone. You never will.