A High School Cross-Country Runner Shows Jesus’s Love When Caylee Montgomery Stops Her Race to Help a Fallen Competitor Reach the Finish Line in Arkansas.
Every day, we see people pushing to be number one – in sports, at school, and at work. Most of us know that feeling when we want to win so badly that nothing else seems to matter.
But the Bible teaches us that in the eyes of God, what matters most isn’t the medals or trophies we win, but how we show His love to others. A young runner named Caylee Montgomery showed us exactly what this looks like during a high school cross-country race.
At a high school cross-country meet, runners were pushing toward the finish line in their final sprint. Just yards from the finish, one runner’s legs could not carry her anymore, and she fell to the ground.
While other runners passed by, Caylee Montgomery noticed the fallen athlete. Without thinking twice about her own race time, she stopped running and went to help the exhausted runner.
In that moment, Caylee did more than just offer physical help – she turned to prayer. As she supported her fellow runner toward the finish line, she kept praying out loud, “Lord, give her strength.”
She also spoke words of hope to her struggling competitor: “You got this. You can push through; we’re almost there, just a little bit longer.”
Caylee’s father caught this touching moment on video and shared it on social media. The video spread fast, showing people everywhere what God’s love looks like in action. One person who watched the video wrote, “That’s my friend! She’s a member of my church! A great example of the Love of Jesus Christ!” Another viewer shared, “Made me cry and I’m not a cry baby. Very touching.”
Before the race began, Caylee had hoped to set her personal best time. But when she saw someone who needed help, she put aside her own goals. Her choice to stop and help led to something unexpected – after the video went viral, she received several college scholarship offers.
This race shows us that while there’s nothing wrong with wanting to win, it shouldn’t come before showing love to others. Athletes spend many hours training to be their best, working hard through tough practices to win their events. Yet Caylee showed us that sometimes the biggest win comes from helping others, not from finishing first.
Jesus tells us in Matthew 5:16 to “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.“
Caylee lived out these words that day at the race. When she chose to help someone from another school, she showed everyone what following Jesus really means. She wasn’t just helping another runner finish a race – she was showing God’s love in a real way.
WATCH: High School Runner’s Incredible Act of Love for Competitor
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