At the age of 10, Tim Howard was diagnosed with Tourette’s Syndrome—a neurological disorder classified by physical and visual tics. Having Tourette’s was not easy for a young boy, but fortunately, Tim was blessed with the gift of athleticism and the strength to overcome his disability. By keeping his faith strong and his eyes on the prize, Tim was able to weather the difficult moments associated with his affliction and use his gifts to impact kids and fans positively.
Tim has overcome the debilitating aspects of Tourette’s and is now living a dream as goalkeeper for the most famous and prestigious soccer club in the world, Manchester United Football Club. He uses his Tourette’s and the exposure he gets as a famous soccer player to encourage others in their faith.
Hebrews 12 encourages all of us to “throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles” so we can “run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” By keeping his eyes fixed on Jesus, Tim has persevered through the inhibiting symptoms of his disease, run the race with endurance, and reaped worldly and eternal rewards for his faithfulness.
So, “let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith,” so we can also run with endurance and perseverance. Jesus was the ultimate example of an enduring and persevering servant of God throughout His life. By following His example, we show our love for Him and we store up rewards in heaven.