USA! USA!

I saw this on the internet and I thought… “Uh-Oh”

Of course, I love what she says here.  I love it when people talk about God and blessings and glory!

I think it’s a beautiful thing when anyone, anywhere, lifts up the name of God in thanksgiving.  AMEN!

However, I can imagine if you don’t believe in God, you may be thinking, “Really?  I mean, you really think God made her win?”

The answer to that from me is no.  I do not think He made her win.

This prayer explains how I think it works.

An Athlete’s Prayer

Author: Sandy Dow Mapula

 

It was right before the big one and the football player said,

“Excuse me guys for just a sec while I go bow my head.”

And in the quiet of that room

The football player prayed,

“Oh God if nothing hear me now

I know that fate is made.”

 

“So help us Lord to win this game,

It’s the big one, man, you see,

If we lose this game that’s it for us,

Please do this, Lord, for me.”

 

And as his body knelt in prayer,

He looked up to the sky,

“And while I’m here, and have some time,

I need to ask you why?”

 

“They say you never help teams win,

Just do it once I pray,

We will pay you back in kinder deeds

Or in another way,”

 

“The reason why I can’t help you win,”

The Lord just then replied,

“Is as you’re asking me to win,

So is the other side.”

 

“I’m everybody’s father and

I must not take one side,

So games are played all on your own

Or they would all be tied.”

 

“But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t pray,”

He answered him with care,

“You can pray that players don’t get hurt

And that all the calls are fair,”

 

And while the player heard this voice,

He bowed his head in prayer,

“I pray for fairness,” said the boy

“And for your tender care.”

 

“You shall be blessed,” the Lord replied,

“Your team and you the same,

And now will you excuse me boy,

I cannot miss this game.”

 

I think God gave Gabby many gifts.  He blessed her with speed and strength and balance and flexibility and the ability to fly.  He blessed her with a mind and heart and soul that are strong enough to withstand rigorous training.  He blessed her with a good coach and a supportive family and a loving host family for when she was training away from home.  I believe God had His hand in making sure she had all the tools she needed to win and then He watched her.  He heard her prayers, he comforted her if she was in pain or in doubt, He listened to what was in her heart and he filled her with hope and confidence.

“I’ve been meditating on scriptures saying ‘be confident in this’. And, you know, the Bible really helps me so I was very confident.”

~Gabby Douglas, U.S. Olympic gold medalist gymnast

See, when you love God and you know He is on your side, you can do anything.  You know you are blessed, you know you are strong, you know you are good enough to win.  It’s a confidence born of faith.  You know it will be okay if you don’t win- you will still feel confident and blessed and strong.  Because who you are doesn’t depend on winning, you relax and end up winning more.  You trust because you know that regardless of the outcome, everything will be okay.

I just heard she signed a $90 million dollar deal and her picture will be on a box of Corn Flakes.  I’d say it’s only just begun for her.  I hope she can stay true to her faith and stay humble in a world that will tempt and taunt and pay to mold her into an “image”.  I think she’s fabulous the way she is now.  For a girl who can literally fly, she seems to have her feet on the ground.  She turned her gifts into gold and she did it with grace.

And they say there are no more role models…

©2012 Sue Bidstrup, Great Big Yes™ All Rights Reserved