Lessons of Heart Placement from Special Olympics Athletes

I have the honor of coordinating volunteers for several local Special Olympics events. Every event, the athletes teach me more about what it means to be a child of God. Here are just two of my most recent lessons:

1. Take competition seriously, but in the end, hug your opponent.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven…” Matthew 5:43-45

Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord. Leviticus 19:18

2. It doesn’t matter what place you get, as long as you finish strong and get a ribbon.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. Hebrews 12:1-2

“And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife[e] or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. 30 But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.” Matthew 19:29-30

Being a child of God has nothing to do with physical stature or mental acuity. It has everything to do with heart placement.

May I always envision the truest hearts of these athletes when I approach the throne of my Savior, coming to Him with a pure heart and simple hope that He will say “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

Promises, Promises

Have you ever given your word; your promise to someone, only to find keeping that promise is more of a challenge than you ever thought? Conversely, has someone given their promise to you and then failed to keep your trust?

A little over a year ago, while dealing with pain and fatigue from several autoimmune disorders, God and I had a conversation. While the full conversation is too lengthy for a blog post, the result was a promise.

I promised God:

I will carry this “thorn” if I am then able to do your will to lead women into their SIGNIFICANCE in Christ.

I would accept the autoimmune disorders and related pain, fatigue and all that comes with it if God allows me to write for him and lead women into their significance.

Done.

God immediately cleared a path, in pure God-the-miracle-maker fashion, making a way for me to write Significance of a Princess Warrior, a Bible study scheduled to be published later this year. He has paved the way for me to lead women into their SIGNIFICANCE, filling His desire for my life.

Making this promise has been riddled with challenges and days that I want to break my word. On one such day, with tears streaming down my face from the pain throughout my body, I cried out to God, asking Him to point me to a scripture in His Word that would help me to not give up. Anything God, just a Word, something to remind me this pain is for a purpose.

A Word.

This simple phrase resonated throughout my being.

I gave my word to God that I would carry this thorn if I were allowed to do His will. Simple in comparison to what He has done for me. He gave His WORD to me at the cross.

Not once has God gone back on his promise to me. A promise that he would never leave me nor forsake me; a commitment to prosper and not harm me, give me hope and a future; a guarantee of eternal life if I simply believe in Jesus Christ my Savior.

God has never failed to fulfill His promises to me. And, even when the days are filled with tears, I pray I will do everything possible to keep my promise to Him.

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6 NIV

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11 NIV

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 NIV