Some are missing first place by one one-hundredth of a second! One one-hundredth of a second!!! And they have to settle for a silver medal instead of a gold! That's tough!
They've been taught to win! Gold is all that matters! No one remembers who came in second. The person on the top riser is the only one that matters! They only play his/her national anthem. No one goes through all the pain of training in order to win a silver medal!
However, there are other scenarios. Occasionally we've seen a swimmer that may not have been expected to medal. But, circumstances were such that they had an amazing performance and came in second. They're elated! All smiles! Can't seem to believe that they achieved a silver medal.
I feel for those who just missed the mark of best! I think I can undersand their high expectations. That's a good thing!
At the same time, I'm happy for those who did surprisingly well and ended up with medals they truly didn't expect. I feel their joy!
Competition is a good thing. It brings out the best in us.
I won two trophies in my life; they're both long gone now.
The first was a trophy for winning a basketball tournament when I was in junior high school. 'Chugger Lowry' was our coach; he played on the varsity team. He was patient with us and taught us the basic skills. Somehow, to his surprise and ours, we won! None of us were outstanding - all average. The wind blew in our direction, and I got my first trophy!
The second trophy came much later - on our honeymoon! We were at THE SUMMIT in the Poconos. At the evening meal we were called up front and presented a trophy for being "The Best In the Sack At the Summit". We were embarrassed in the crowd of other newlyweds. Together that afternoon, we had won the 'sack races'. That was 1973 - thirty-nine years ago.
Trophies and medals are nice. But eventually, they gather dust or get lost in attics.
I Peter 1:3-6 (TLB)
All honor to God, the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ; for it is his boundless mercy that has given us the privilege of being born again so that we are now members of God’s own family. Now we live in the hope of eternal life because Christ rose again from the dead. And God has reserved for his children the priceless gift of eternal life; it is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. And God, in his mighty power, will make sure that you get there safely to receive it because you are trusting him. It will be yours in that coming last day for all to see. So be truly glad! There is wonderful joy ahead, even though the going is rough for a while down here.
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