My husband Jack was on mile 25 out of 26 when his strength failed him.

丈夫杰克在42公里的赛程中，到最后一公里就撑不住了。

This was his first marathon, and he was running alone. After stopping for a drink of water at an aid station, he felt exhausted and sat down on the grass beside the course. Minutes passed, and he couldn’t get up. He had resigned himself to quitting the race when two middle-aged schoolteachers from Kentucky came by. Although they were strangers, they noticed Jack and asked if he wanted to run with them. Suddenly, he found his strength restored. Jack stood and accompanied by the two women he finished the race.

这是杰克第一次参加马拉松，而且没有朋友陪同。他在一个补给站停下来喝了水，过后觉得体力透支，就坐在跑道旁的草地上休息。时间分秒过去，但他却起不了身。当他认定自己无法跑完全程时，正好有两位来自肯塔基州的中年老师经过。虽然她们不认识杰克，但她们注意到他坐在那里，便问他愿不愿意和她们一起跑。这时，他突然觉得体力恢复了，于是在这两位女老师的陪伴下，他跑完了全程。

Those women who encouraged Jack remind me of Aaron and Hur, two friends who helped Moses, the leader of the Israelites, at a key point (Ex. 17:8–13). The Israelites were under attack. In battle, they were winning only as long as Moses held his staff up (v. 11). So when Moses’s strength began to fail, Aaron and Hur stood on either side of him, holding up his arms for him until sunset (v. 12).

那两位鼓励杰克的老师，让我想起亚伦和户珥。这两位摩西的朋友在关键时刻，帮助了以色列人的领袖摩西（出埃及记17章8-13节）。当时以色列人正遭受攻击，在争战的过程中，只有当摩西举杖的时候，他们才会得胜（11节）。所以当摩西撑不住时，亚伦和户珥就站在他的两边，帮他高举双臂，直到日落（12节）。

Following God is not a solo endeavor. He did not create us to run the race of life alone. Companions can help us persevere through difficulty as we do what God has called us to do.

在跟随上帝的道路上，我们不该踽踽独行，祂的心意并不是要我们孤单地奔跑人生的旅程。身边的伙伴可以帮助我们，在困境中仍能坚持完成上帝的托付。

God, thank You for relationships that encourage me to continue following You. Help me to be a source of strength for others, as well.

Exodus 17:8-13New International Version (NIV)

The Amalekites Defeated

8 The Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim. 9 Moses said to Joshua, “Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hands.”

10 So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill. 11 As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. 12 When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset. 13 So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword.