Nine contestants assembled at the starting line. When the gun sounded, they all started out, not exactly with a dash, but certainly with all their heart’s desire to run the race . . . finish the race . . . and win the race.
Well, they weren’t more than 20-30 yards out when one boy took a very bad fall. First, he stumbled and then he hit the ground and tumbled several times over as he landed on the hard track.
Suddenly the audience in the stadium got completely quiet. And then boy began to cry. The other eight contestants heard the boy cry. They slowed down and they looked back. Then one by one, they all turned around and went back for the boy. They gathered around him on the track to see if he was OK. One girl with Down’s syndrome bent down and kissed him on the cheek and said, "This will make it all better."
Then the other runners helped the boy to his feet, and all nine linked arms and walked together to the finish line.
Everyone in the stadium stood and cheered, and the applause went on for a very long time. In fact, the crowd didn’t want to stop cheering. Because they had seen an eternal truth illustrated right before their very eyes.
The truth they witnesses is this: what matters most in life is not winning, or gaining glory for ourselves. What matters most in life is kindness, helping others win.
The Bible says, "So faith, hope, and love
abide. These three. But the greatest of these is love"
(I Corinthians 13:13).
Let’s pray:
Gracious God, help us to always remember
what is most important in life. Help us to love. Teach us to love. Inspire
us to love. And fill us with Your love, so that we may share it with others.
In Christ’s Name. Amen.
Rich Knight