A couple of years ago Abner finished his first race in dramatic fashion.

The Meijier Kids Fun Run takes place on Detroit Marathon weekend and it’s a huge event. There’s banners and music and crowds. The 1 mile race takes place along the Downtown Riverwalk and every year hundreds of kids participate. When the gun went off that day they all sprinted ahead, down the riverwalk, and coming up the rear was Abner and I.

That day he finished in last place. But he finished and that alone was incredible. The scene at the finish line was memorable: music blaring, a shuffling little kid wearing leg braces slowly coming down the road, the crowd going increasingly wild as he reached the end. Abner even fell across the finish line just for good measure.

Afterwards, wearing his medal, total strangers were running up to him, giving him high fives, effusing praise and enthusiasm. His mom and I were basically crying for an hour straight afterwards. We were so, so proud that day.

Since that day he’s gone on to do other races in other places. He shocked us all by finishing a 5k last year. He’s growing stronger, taller. He’s getting older.

The days of the past were far more dramatic. His physical turnaround after we moved to the US was a feel good story, maybe even an underdog story.

But last Friday Abner finished another Fun Run to raise money for his school and he didn’t come in last place, in fact he finished right in the middle of the pack. And while his teachers and classmates cheered as he crossed the finish line, it wasn’t the over-the-top cheering he received on that fall day along the riverfront.

It was just…a normal amount of cheering, the same as any other kid in his class.

What a long way he’s come. When things that were once extraordinary are now routine, mundane, expected. For Abner, thriving has become normal. And while it lacks the dramatics of days gone by, it’s such a blessing to see him grow and flourish.

It’s awesome. And while part of me wishes to share some impressive story with you, dear reader, I’d rather have this mundane account of just another remarkably unremarkable day.

This race Abner did last Friday was to raise money for Charlotte Mason Community School where he attends. The school is doing important work in the community, providing affordable Christian education to families in Detroit and Highland Park. I love what they do - not just teaching the kids core subjects - but also instilling character values and a sense of community in these children.

Would you consider making a donation on Abner’s fundraiser page and investing in his and other kids’ education? Click on the link below to donate and thanks again for supporting Abner’s journey these past few years!

https://go.rallyup.com/cmcs2024/m/b3eb8f/Member/Details

Remarkably Unremarkable