The Champion Within

“In the dust of defeat as well as in the laurels of victory there is a glory to be found if one has done his best.” —Eric Liddell

Lidell is paraphrasing the old adage, “It doesn’t matter if you win or lose its how you play the game.” Simply put, it all comes down to effort. If you have given your best, what more can one ask of you? Sure defeat hurts. However, when you know you have given your best, the pain of defeat seems to begin to fade quickly. Conversely, knowing that you did not give your best only fosters the pain of regret. And, the pain of regret can endure a lifetime. You’ll always wonder what might have happened if you would have given your best effort.”

I frequently talk to my children about being a champion. I want them to develop the attitude of a champion. I encourage them to strive to be a champion every day and in everything they do. When I speak of becoming a champion, I’m not talking about being the best at everything they do; I’m talking about giving their best in everything they do. Striving to be the best at everything you do is unrealistic. Why? We have no control or choice over the God given talents and abilities that were instilled in us; that was God’s choice. We will surely run into all kinds of people who will have more talent and abilities than us in a given area. What is not unrealistic is striving to give your best in everything you do.

One definition of a champion is “a person who has the attributes of a winner.” Besides talent, I know of no other attribute that defines a winner better than a willingness to give their best. James Allen once said, "In all human affairs. There are efforts and there are results, and the strength of the effort is in the measure of the result." James Allen is referring to the Law of Reaping and sowing; you get what you deserve. When you give your best effort, you may not be declared the best, but you can certainly say you gave your best. When you accept a challenge and give your best, there are no losers, only winners, and that makes you a champion.

I ask you: Are you giving your best at what you do, or are you just going through the motions?

Remember, when you give your best, you become a champion; a champion to the most important person in the world, and that person is you!

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It's Your Life: Live it, Love it & Celebrate
MJD