From the moment I picked up Chasing Grace by Sanya Richards-Ross it was so hard to put down. I literally read the book within a 48-hr. time frame. I loved that even though I’m NOT an athlete or know the first thing about being a professional track star EVERYTHING in this book is relatable. Sanya takes us on a journey from her childhood in Kingston, Jamaica where she recognized early on that she had a passion for running and competing in track and field.
Every chapter begins with a related bible verse before she takes you back to moments and memories in her life where she shares her truth. One thing I truly admire is that Sanya shares her flaws and where she went wrong in certain situations. This book is truly inspirational and motivational allowing you to apply certain strategies and prayer to your life and situations. Sanya breaks down the 4 P’s: push, pace, position and poise. These were applied on and off the track!
PUSH: Chase Your Dream, PACE: Create Your Rhythm, POSITION: Go with Courage, POISE: Commit to the Finish. Bonus: PRAY!!!!! The Silent, Constant, Invisible P. Sanya shares that prayer is an essential element of every phase, and it does deserve practice. Also, saying that in every journey’s beginning, middle and end is richer and sweeter when shared with God. I’ll be the first to admit that I pray but, I have an issue when it comes to having an attitude of expectancy.
Proverbs 23:18 says; “For sure there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off.†Sanya shares that when you pray, you ask God to intervene, and then submit to his will. Through gratitude and admissions, you ask him to take away your burdens, and by your faithfulness, trust him to do it. I’m sure we all deal with letting go and letting God however Sanya shares that prayer frees you from worry, doubt and fear. She also shares to pray without ceasing and be in consistent communication with God.
I truly admire the close-knit relationship that Sanya has with her family. It’s refreshing to see such a close and deeply rooted family dynamic that clearly has unconditional love and support for one another. There are so many broken families and lack of support nowadays. Her family saw her potential and supported her passion which led to them to relocate from Jamaica to the United States where she would benefit from numerous opportunities in education and her track career.
Overall, it was an AH-MAZING read! I thoroughly enjoyed the patois as I’m a first generation American born to Jamaican parents. I’m a Sanya Richards-Ross fan and remember cheering her on during Olympic competitions. I was proud that she was Jamaican and representing the USA. I got the best of both worlds. Sanya is very brave to share her journey with us. She shares her life, intimate relationship with God and the lessons learned along the way. Chasing Grace is available on Amazon.