A Short Story

ANOTHER WAY TO WIN

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.

Godbless

Channelofhealing

Comments

  1. That was lovely and beautifully written. Thank you

    ReplyDelete
  2. Human ego, is one of the thing that we must crucify it so that the work of Holy Spirit should manifested in our life. Good story, thank you for sharing.

    By the way visit also my latest post
    http://metanoialive.blogspot.com/2008/03/nephilim.html

    Thank you

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous12:48

    Great story! The world would have said that the other girl was stupid to give up the gold medal, or question if the injured friend would have done the same.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Godbless you Given55 am grateful to God that you do visit regularly, by the way I stopped by your blog today... very interesting I must say will be visiting more Godwilling.

    Stayblessed in Jesus Mighty Name Amen

    ReplyDelete
  5. We thank God Sigit. Godbless you will definitely visit the post on your blog.

    Godbless

    ReplyDelete
  6. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Exactly Isaiah my Brother, am happy we all draw something from these stories and I pray to God to enable me get more for the people of God.

    Godbless you in Jesus Mighty Name Amen

    ReplyDelete
  8. Anonymous01:18

    THIS IS REALLY DEEP,IT SHOWS THE TRUE MEANING OF FRIENDSHIP AND LOVE, WE NEED TO PRAY TO GOD TO HELP US BE SELFLESS AND DON'T LET OUR EGO GET THE BETTER OF US. WE NEED WISDOM, UNDERSTANDING AND KNOWLEDGE TO OVERCOME THE TRIALS IN LIFE. THANK YOU CHANNEL.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Amen to that Cinquentte. God is the fountain of Love.

    Stayblessed

    ReplyDelete
  10. What a great lesson channelofhealing, thanks for sharing, Anna :)

    ReplyDelete
  11. To God be the Glory Amen, Anna

    Godbless

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Dear Friend , God bless you as you leave your comment.
You are Special and I love you.

Popular posts from this blog

Todd Bentley, Divorcing His Wife!!!

Todd Bentley's Unholy Affair!

The Miracle Of Prayer