So Much
I’ve been watching the Winter Olympics a lot recently. They were interviewing an athlete after she won a gold medal. I was intrigued when in her tearful celebration she said something to the effect of “I’ve given up so much for this.” I had been thinking what wonderful things she has been able to experience. I realize she had worked incredibly hard, and not been able to experience and enjoy some of the “pleasures” of overindulgence in foods, night life, etc. She gave up sitting around, and sleeping in, she had long hours of practice, and endured many painful injuries. At the same time, she had the incredible benefits of being in amazing shape, and able to do things the rest of us only dream about. She travelled all over the world, saw sights and scenery that are so outrageous they can’t even be described. She met unbelievably talented people, and experienced “the thrill of victory.”
I’ve been thinking about all the things Danny and Dalaina have given up. They are living in a very difficult environment; they are away from family and friends. They are raising their kids in a risky place without grandparents nearby. What are they gaining? They are giving their kids an experience that money can’t buy. They are learning to see life from a perspective that most of us sadly will never begin to understand. They get to see people and places that are so beautiful they can’t even be described. They get to experience the reality that serving others is more fulfilling than serving ourselves. More than all of this they get to experience the joy of walking the path that God is calling them for. I’m not sure there is much better in life than the deep satisfaction that comes when we are confident that we doing just what God has planned for us, even though it may mean giving up “so much.”