'Cancer is limited:
It cannot cripple love,
It cannot shatter hope,
It cannot erode faith,
It cannot eat away peace,
It cannot destroy confidence,
It cannot kill friendship,
It cannot shut out memories,
It cannot silence courage,
It cannot invade the soul,
It cannot reduce eternal life,
It cannot quench the spirit,
And it cannot lessen the power of the resurrection.'
Bulletin board in the Mayo Clinic
God
Help me to Accept the People I cannot Change
The Courage to Change the One I can
And the Wisdom to know it’s Me
-John G Miller
I happened to catch a commercial last night for the TV show “Biggest Loser”. It showed one of the new contestants struggling to continue walking on the treadmill. The fitness coach Bob Greene was standing there saying “don’t give up, I have Big Plans for you!” I turned to Debbie and said, “How would that make you feel to know someone believed in you like that?” She said, “That is what everyone wants, someone to believe in them”. Something about knowing someone else believes you can accomplish a big plan is motivating.
If there are times when we don’t feel like we have a champion in our life, there is no one there rooting us on, and we may feel like giving up, when our belief in our self is wavering and we feel like we can’t go on, we need someone to tell us “don’t give up, I have Big Plans for you!” Someone that can see us not as we are, but as we can become. Someone who has done it before with other people. Someone who is confident that it CAN be done.
It is a rare treasure to find someone who will truly come along side you and be your champion. Too often a self centered attitude rules the day. “How can I help someone else considering all my issues, problems, concerns, limited time, limited money…” Let’s pray that God will give us His heart for people.
Our young people need this. “God I ask you to raise up mentors, encouragers, people who will affirm them, people who will believe in them and people who can help to raise their vision of what is possible in their life. We need people who will look beyond the faults and weakness and SEE Powerful and Amazing individuals. I must be these things for my family, but our kids need more that Mom and Dad telling them they can do anything.
As adults we need a champion. I mean a specific encourager who can see our strengths and potential and speak into our lives specific words of vision and affirmation. “Oh I am tough, I don’t need anyone one cheering me on.” Please don’t kid yourself, everyone needs a champion.
While it would be wonderful to have another human cheering for me, there are times in life when it seem like we walk the road alone. During those times it is comforting to know that we can “encourage ourselves in the Lord” as David did. Just think, the very God of the Universe says to YOU, “For I know that plan I have for you”, Declares the Lord, “Plan to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” God has BIG PLANS for YOU!
I want to internalize the fact that God believes in ME and is cheering for ME and already sees what I can be. Then I want to partner with God and come along side someone else and be their champion. There are no perfect coaches or champions, only willing people that allow God to use them to reach out a hand and pull someone else up to a higher level with them.
Finally, if you are reading this and know of a good life coaching, mentoring, Bible based program for young adults please post a comment and share the info. Love.
