Winning Isn't Everything

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." (2 Timothy 4:7)

Dear Anika,

It was one of those nights again when all you wanted to do was talk. It was already way past your bedtime so I suggested that whoever closes her eyes first will receive a prize.

Then all of a sudden you started crying. When I asked you why, this is what you said, "I always want to win Mama. I don't want to lose." You were crying and saying those words over and over again. I just held you close and let you express your feelings. I only spoke after you have calmed down because I wanted you to listen to me very carefully.

This is what I said...

"Listen to me Nika. I want you to remember every word I will say to you. In life, you will encounter battles after battles. Sometimes you will win and sometimes you will lose. When you win, that's well and good. But when you lose, you can cry a little but what matters is how you rise up after the loss. Will you fall into despair? Or will you have the courage to strive harder the next time and be better than the last? Remember the story of the bear who loved to run and compete in races. He never won a single race and yet he never gave up, he would always look forward to the next run hoping that someday he will win. Until one day, he saw someone ski past him. He was intrigued. So he set his mind on ski racing; he practiced and trained really hard. On the day of the race it seemed that it was his time to win because the bear was ahead of the pack. But in the middle of a downhill, he heard a cub crying. He stopped and looked for the cub and helped him out of the pile of snow. All his competitors surged ahead of him. By the time he was able to bring the cub out of harm's way he was already at the tail end of the competition. Despite the looming loss he still made an effort to finish the race. When he reached the finish line he was stunned because everybody were cheering him on. He may have lost the race but to all those who witnessed his heroic gesture he was considered the winner because he put the needs of the cub first before his desire to win. The lesson of this story is winning isn't everything. What matters is you finish the race with your head held up high. Sure you may not be able to bring home the crown or the trophy, but because you have helped a person in need, you have earned a much important prize."

I Love You To The Moon and Back,
Mama