Posted on 03/23/2015 12:21:06 PM PDT by nickcarraway
A series of photographs have gone viral after the inspiring end of a 10K race Saturday in Kentucky.
The photos do not depict the winner of the event, or even a medal ceremony.
They show Asia Ford, determined not to give up, crossing the finish line hand-in-hand with the two people who inspired her to continue: her son and an officer from the Louisville Metro Police Department.
When you see the photo, just know that youre worth it and you can do anything that you can do anything that you put your mind to, said Ford, who is now 217 pounds lighter than she was two years ago. She has been on a journey to strong and healthy for her three children.
I just knew that all of those time that we went to the doctors office and the doctor told us what could have happened, I wasnt going to let that happen to me, Ford said.
Quitting was not an option for Ford during Louisvilles annual Rodes City Run, she said. But after about 5 miles, with just over a mile to go, she began to wonder if she could finish.
My breath was kind of like, it felt like it was taken from me, she said.
Thats when emergency medical services personnel became concerned.
The EMS guys got out and talked to her, went to check on her, said police Lt. Aubrey Gregory. And she was like, Im not stopping. Im not stopping. So she kept going.
According to Ford, the police officer asked her: Youre going to finish the race, arent you?
Yes, she replied.
And I said Im not going to let her stop. Were going to do this together, said Gregory, who then got out of his vehicle. She grabbed my hand. I grabbed her hand.
Holding hands with her son and Gregory, Ford finished the race.
Watching her go across that line, raising her hands, I felt that all over, the officer said. It was a great moment.
Thanks for your feedback. Good to hear your view. You are correct the picture is not void of meaning, but I guess it is what we are called to do. It is a great picture, but for many I would hope this would be our routine response.
To be honest, I am surprised at my own reaction to it.
I can be pretty harsh, and I feel calloused these days because of recent events in our country. Some days I feel wound up like a rubber band over it.
But I think when I, hmm I’m not exactly sure how to word it so here goes, stop looking at things in a broad brush style and look at people individually as one does look at these three people in this picture, then humanity returns.
I mean, generally speaking, I’m really mad at black people. Let me be blunt about it. But am I mad at this woman in this picture, or the young man helping her, or the police officer helping her?
No, I am proud of them.
The “points” of this article and photo, to me, are:
1) She worked so hard to lose over 200 pounds
2) She worked so hard to run in the 10K and was determined to finish it
3) Her son and the officer helped her
4) It is all about celebrating
Maybe it is too “ordinary” for you to celebrate. I often think that we miss too many chances in life, to celebrate “ordinary” things and that often the “ordinary things” are what really sustain us over the years.
JMHO
Since when is publishing good stuff not newsworthy? Are you so addicted to bad news that you would actually criticize this event?
.
Sad that it takes crap for you to consider something ‘newsworthy.’
You must be a miserable person to be around!
.
It was a Marathon for this at the time, 63 year-old man. It was 82 degrees in the shade, a little warmer on the asphalt, at the 20-mile mark the finish line was only a block away...I said to my 10-year grandson who had joined me at the 17-mile marker to complete the task at hand...: “It’s hot, we can just go down here and be done....” his response continues to bounce around in my mind today: “You can’t quit, Papaw...” and so we didn’t quit. An achievement of a lifetime!
Yes, we should indeed celebrate this touch of humanity. It is a good thing.
I appreciate your invective. Your example is not unexpected.
.
Yours was!
.
I like this picture
The son:
"Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee." Exodus 20:11
And for the Police Officer:
"And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." Matthew 22:39
To all
Do to others as you would have them do to you....Luke 6:31
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.