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{SFTH} *Another Way to Win* 5/30/01
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Another Way to Win
By Rubel Shelly
Kay Poe and Esther Kim have been best friends since they were seven
years old. Among other things they have in common, the two young ladies
from Houston both compete at the highest levels in taekwondo. How good
are they? Esther and Kay advanced to the finals in the Women's Olympic
Flyweight division at the 2000 U.S. Olympic Team Trials on May 20 in
Colorado Springs.
"I don't think of her as just a friend. I think of her more as a
sister," Kay says. "We've grown up together, and we always push each
other and help each other out the best we can training wise." What a
story was unfolding! Reporters and photographers were poised to record
the outcome of so intense a competition between two girls who have been
close for so long. But a sports story would soon be overshadowed by a
far more important friendship story.
Kay had dislocated her left kneecap in her semi-final match of the
round robin tournament. Though ranked number one in the world at her
sport, it was questionable that she could compete against her best
friend. She could barely stand, so it was a foregone conclusion that
Esther would win, travel to the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, and
represent the United States in the international competition these two
had trained and worked toward for so long.
On the day of the match, Esther Kim shocked the crowd
by forfeiting rather than defeat her friend in an unfair competition.
In allowing the better taekwondo fighter to represent the United States
in Sydney, she won a personal battle over ego and selfishness. Amidst
frequent stories of cheating and taking unfair advantage in order to
win at any price, Esther showed how to win by losing.
"Even though I didn't have the gold medal around me," said Esther, "for
the first time in my life, I felt like a real champion." Her generosity
of spirit was honored with the Citizenship Through Sports Award and
with an all-expenses-paid trip to the 2000 Olympic Games from the
International Olympic Committee.
In the Bible, Paul wrote about giving up certain "rights" for the sake
of people he loved (see 1 Corinthians 9:1-15). Parents do it all the
time for their children. And occasionally friends make magnanimous
gestures like Esther's.
The next time you are inclined to bemoan the selfishness of the masses,
recall this story of a twenty-year-old athlete's largess. The next time
you have the chance to show magnanimity, let it inspire you to rise to
the level of her example.
Rubel Shelly
whcoc@edge.net
Send Rubel an email and let him know what you thought about his story!
(c) 2000 Rubel Shelly. Used by permission. From Rubel Shelly's
"FAX of Life" printed each Tuesday. See
<http://www.faithmatters.com> for previous issues of the "FAX of Life."
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Rubel Shelly has preached for the Woodmont Hills Church of Christ in Nashville since 1978. During that time, he has also taught at David Lipscomb University and Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. He is the author of more than 20 books, including several which have been translated into languages such as Korean, Japanese, Portuguese, Italian, French, and Russian. He is married to the former Myra Shappley, and they are the parents of three children: Mrs. David (Michelle) Arms, Tim, and Tom.
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Thought For The Day:
"More people fail for lack of encouragement than for any other reason."
Verse for the Day:
"Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life."
-- Proverbs 13:12
Kid's Thought For The Day:
"Play Dough and Microwave should never be used in the same sentence."
Parent's Thought For The Day:
"You don't find time --You make it!"
Coach's Thought For The Day:
The only people who make no mistakes are dead people. I saw a
man who had not made a mistake for four thousand years. He was a
mummy in the Egyptian Department of the British Museum." --H.L. Wayland
Deep Thought For The Day:
"How came they call them Tuna fish but not beef mammal or chicken bird?"
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REQUESTS:
I would like to ask everyone to keep my son, and his company in the Army, in
their prayers. They just left for Kosovo yesterday, May 28 for six months.
My son is 20 and has been in the Army for 1 year. This is his first time
for deployment and he is very nervous and am sure a bit scared too. He's in
the infantry so will be patroling and guarding places...so this obviously
makes mom a bit nervous too *S* I know God is watching over them all and I
ask His continued blessings and protection on them. Thank you for your
prayers also. God bless you all!
Tamia K
whidbey22@hotmail.com
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Please, can you pray for friend and collegue, Liz. She has been battling with breast cancer for about three years. She has just discovered another lump and is now on morphine. She is a lovely woman who has lifted me up many times when I feel down.We have all seen and heard of God's miracles. I want readers to please join their faith with me in praying for a miracle for this wonderful lady. Thank you and God bless you all.
Tee Fabikun
teefabikun@hotmail.com
***********
I have never sent in a prayer request before although I have responded to some of the requests I have seen. I now have a need that is weighing very heavily on my mind and didn't quite know how to share it.
It is not for myself, but for a lovely and loving family whose breadwinner has been out of work for many months. There is one salary coming in from the wife, who works part time so she can be at home giving her children the Christian training the parents feel they need. Since the wife has been at her job some 16 years, she does not want to try to change, at least until the husband can get something substantial.
At this point in time they are in danger of losing their house to foreclosure and I am requesting prayer for the father to find a permanent position somewhere to take care of this financial emergency and relieve the burden they feel. I cannot reveal any more because I don't want them to know that I am placing their need on a prayer chain.
Please add your prayers to mine and theirs that a blessing will come into their life very soon that will save their home and give some normalcy to their lives.
Thank you.
Rebecca
momsie44@aol.com
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_
/_/\/\ MICHAEL T. POWERS
\_\ / THUNDER27@aol.com
/_/ \ "For I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but
\_\/\ \ Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body I live for the Son
\_\/ of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." Galatians 2:20
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