Last year, I trained for my first half marathon.
I had never been a runner before—I was always more of a sprinter. As I began building my endurance, each long run became the longest I had ever completed.
One summer morning, I was walking with my parents when we saw someone jogging past us on a trail. He wasn’t moving fast—just a steady, slow pace. As we passed him, we found ourselves judging him because of how slow he was running. Shortly after, we all felt bad about it, and I said, “Hey, we never know what mile someone is on.” That thought stuck with me, and I found myself returning to it each time I ran.
We truly never know what mile someone is on. The person we pass could be on their 14th mile, pushing through the final stretch. They might be recovering from an injury or simply choosing to take it slow and steady. We just don’t know.
As more time passed in my running journey, I began to see how this idea applies to life. We never know what “mile” someone is on in their personal journey. Someone could be facing their biggest trial, experiencing their happiest moment, or just having a tough day. This realization helped me understand that we often have no idea what others are going through—so instead of judging, we should offer encouragement.
This reminds me of a quote from Sister Freeman. In April 2026, she gave a talk called “Best Days and Worst Days.” She said, “Because of Jesus Christ, no matter how bad things are right now, your best days are ahead.” In other words, the next mile is ahead. Everyone will make it through the mile they are on, whether it’s their best day or their hardest.
Through Christ, we are helped. He comforts us in our worries and fears. Jesus Christ is our strength. No matter what mile someone else is on, our role is not to judge, but to offer strength and encouragement—just as He would.