My Favorite Olympic Moment

http://www.mamakatslosinit.com

I'm hookin' up with Mama Kat's pretty much world famous writer's workshop today....Because I could NOT let the opportunity pass.  One of the prompts asked about our favorite moment of the Olympics so far.

Hands down, it was when I first saw Oscar Pistorius from South Africa.

This man was born with a defective gene that forced him to be a double amputee.  I'm not sure exactly how much of "his" leg he has, but that's not the point.  This man, who does not have "normal," working legs, ran the 400m sprint against able bodied men who have been training all their lives for this one moment.  Oscar had to get special permission from the Olympic Committee just to get IN the qualifiers.  And he did.  And he made it to the semi-finals.  That was his goal, and he made it.

And as a human being, this picture sums up what he is made of.  The man has character in spades.  He is AMAZING.

So let me encourage you, as Oscar Pistorius has encouraged me.  I have Myasthenia Gravis.  There are many limitations that come with that disease.  There are many things that I cannot do.

But there are many things I CAN do.  And this man, this hero, reminded me that "normal" is just a word.  It means NOTHING.  Nada.  Zip.  Zilch.

Be who YOU are.  Be the BEST YOU you can be.  Don't let limitations stop you.  There are people sicker than me, healthier than me, poorer than me, richer than me, skinnier than me, heavier than me... The list can go on and on.  My point is that NONE of that matters.  You are YOU.  And that's exactly who you are supposed to be.

That is who God intended you to be.  So we need to stop making excuses and be the BEST we can be.  Thank you Oscar, for showing the world your courage, your skill, and your character.  You are the stuff that heroes are made of.

True Character

I wonder why we think we can change without God's help. I wonder how we EVER think we can change others. I mean, we can mold our children, and we can mentor young adults, but once a person is who they have become, well, that's it. Unless God moves. And I ain't God, I can tell ya that much! And He ain't movin'. I know most of the time the Mov-ee needs to want to move, but we're talking about God, the mountain Mover!

I can't seem to get over the fact that I continue to believe that people will do what they say they will do. (I truly can't be the only one out there, can I???) GOD does what He says He will do...I have to get that through my thick head. I cannot depend on the word of another. I know people get caught up in their lives (Oh, before I go any further, I'm not talking about anyone who reads this blog, so don't send me e-mails of panic) and their focus can get myopic. I know my own focus can be myopic, especially when I'm not having such a good day (like today).

I know I'm not the only person on the planet who means what she says. I also say what I mean. So if I hear a crappy comment from someone directed toward me, I'm going to believe that's how they really feel...after all, the gospel of Matthew tells us that "out of the abundance of the heart, the man speaketh."

Lord knows I'm not perfect. Lord knows I've let people down. It's just the time and time again from someone who should be the soft place to fall. I mean, I really am learning that God is the ONLY One who can meet all my needs. I get that. But it would be nice to have a little compassion and understanding here on earth as well. Call me naive, but I thought that people who loved each other were supposed to be nice to each other. Why is that so much to ask? So much of this just does not seem like rocket science to me, and yet....is honesty with love THAT difficult? Is being a man or woman of character just SO impossible today? Is doing what you say you will do a foreign concept? It's like, if you don't mean it, just shut up. Don't tell me you'll do or be or are something you won't or aren't or can't. Just don't.

Thank God I know Who holds my future. I don't know what's going to happen, but I KNOW that "He who began a good work in me WILL carry it on to completion." Don't know how, but I've learned long ago that the how is so far out of your control ya might as well stop worrying about it. If God gives you a peek, great. If not, hang on for the ride.