"Winning isn't everything; it's the only thing."
Father’s love
See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! I John 3:1The word that jumps off the page when I read this verse is “lavished”. It speaks to me of giving, generously, willingly. God does not love us reluctantly but intentionally, and enthusiastically.
As I pray for athletes each day I often use the words of Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 3:16-19 praying that they “may have power to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ”. In theory we all know that God loves us but we easily forget. Remember God loves you when you win, when you lose, when you false start, when you are injured, when you lose your funding.
At the world championships this year I wanted to introduce myself to a Christian long jumper. After the competition was my best chance. The athlete had a series of no-jumps. What could I say to an athlete in those circumstances? I just said “Sorry” and reminded them that God loved them. Not in a simplistic or crass way. I was not saying, “Never mind that you travelled half-way round the world to fail to make a mark, God still loves you”. Rather, I was trying to express the thought that because God loves us he is right there with us when it all goes wrong.
As Philip Yancey says: "There is nothing we can do to make God love us more. There is nothing we can do to make God love us less".