I’ve only met a few real champions in my life.
I’m not talking about gold medal wearing Olympians or war vets (but those guys and gals are some AMAZING champions). I’m not talking about the people who win every contest they enter or the ones who always end up on top.
I’m talking about those people whose constant calling is to cheer others on. They are the champions of their friends, their family members; they are the champions of the weak and the helpless.
There are few people like that in the world and in my lifetime I’ve only met a few.
A true champion like this sincerely celebrates the accomplishments and achievements of others without jealousy, without reserve, and without any thought of their own success.
I really want to be like that.
I want to live in such a way where my
I’m really happy for you
is really just that.
That I am really, truly, genuinely overjoyed that YOU have won, that YOU have succeeded and that YOU have done well.
I’m in a season of my life right now where I really think that I’m being called to this. I’m finally learning the intrinsic value in being someone’s champion because others have been champions for me.
Others have celebrated in my miniscule achievements and in my small victories and I am coming to understand that there might be no better encouragement for someone when tiny successes are not only noticed, but they are celebrated.
There are a few women champions in my life. And I want to be just like them.
There is no more time in this lifetime for jealousy,
for wishing we were someone else,
for being hurt by someone elses’ favor,
for envy or distrust or covetousness.
There is simply no time for it.
So let’s all authentically put these things aside and celebrate each other. Let us be the champions of our friends, of our brothers and sisters, of the ones who have no voice. Let us PUSH one another forward to love and good deeds rather than seeking to push our own influence further or our own thoughts deeper into the heart of the world.
Let’s be one another’s greatest fans.
Celebrating others requires bravery and fearlessness. As champions we have to give up our own “rights” to make ourselves look better, sound louder and win more prizes. We courageously fight for others and cheer them as they win their battles.
Can we do that? Who will you champion today? Who has been your champion?
Sarah…oh yes…this is a missing art in the body of Christ…This is the every essence of who Jesus is…laying down His life..becoming the servant of all…I must say…age seems to help here…or at least for me…God by His Grace has helped me rejoice with those who rejoice. He showed me that to really enter into someone’s rejoicing or mourning we have to get outside ourselves…not the pat on the back that says …great…or I am sorry…but outside of ourselves to stand side by side…usually it cost of something…our pride…our own thoughts…our time and energy…
great post…great challenge…blessings to you as we cheer our brothers and sisters on….
i agree roseann. it costs something. thank you for bringing that up! i appreciate your comment. =)
I’m lucky that I’ve had lots of people championing me on- my parents, my friends, and people who have discipled me. And the irony is that I find it so hard to do myself- to completely unselfishly congratulate someone, without thinking ‘I want that!’.
i love that louise!! =)
YOU are a champion to so many people, Sarah!
http://irishtripletsrecovery.blogspot.com/
thank you!!
Not to sound cheesy, but my husband has been my biggest champion. I never thought I was beautiful until I met him. (I don’t say that to sound vain, but to communicate how much value he has built in my with his encouragement.) He encourages me so much in my writing and mothering and pretty much everything else I do. It’s such a treasure.
I love, love, love to encourage other people too. I love seeing them blossom and achieve! But it’s so much easier to champion those “behind” us and those “ahead” of us. I want to be great at championing those beside me as well. When they get the things I wanted or when they “surpass” me in some way. Not easy…for me, anyway. But such a rich soil to grow humility and Christlikeness….
i don’t think it’s cheesy. and i love what you said about those ahead of us. well said, kat!
I LOVE THIS. There is such a huge power in cheering others on- and you are such an encourager. I love you!
thank you ash. you are like the biggest champion of them all!
I think some people are born like this — my husband and my oldest son, for example. They just exude encouragement. They love people and truly relish in other’s success. I have had to grow into this wanting to lavishly encourage others. I believe my hangup lied in the fact that I needed to sacrifice my own sense of inadequacy at the cross. My self-doubts always held me back from championing others. I’m so thankful that God grew me (and is still working on me) in that area, so that I can truly cheer others on, never comparing or feeling hurt. Great post.
that’s beautiful alyssa! thank you!
Yes. I love this idea…I love the piece about Sarah Smith of Golders Green in The Great Divorce by CS Lewis. She was a person full of God’s glory…the object of a parade of joy… but who had no “influence” on earth besides the love she showered on all the people around her.
I love the perspective this always gives me. The most important influence I will ever have is through loving the people God right here.
Hi Sarah. I have to say that my son Jonathan is my champion. It is fitting that I say this today…..can I ask your wonderful readers for a prayer request? I got the most feared news a few hours ago that my champion, my miracle baby, my only child was welcomed into the arms of Jesus. There was a fire in his apartment and he did not survive. Did I just type those words? It seems like a nightmare to me. Maybe I will wake up soon. I know my faith is strong and this is a true test for me. If God gave his only son for our sins, I should be willing to give mine. But it is so hard. I do not blog but I read so many blogs these days, like yours. Please lift us in prayer today. I thank you all from my heart.
Diane Taylor
Oh my goodness. I don’t even know what to write. I will be praying for you.
I have enjoyed reading your posts!!Looking forward to more.
Blessings!!
As much teasing that can go in this house, I have found that when I tease, especially my eldest, it tips it over the edge into non-fun. Hubby pointed out that he felt ganged up upon. And I realized in that moment & since then — that one of my greatest roles in being their mama — I need to be their “champion”. I hadn’t thought of it in that term until reading your post here today. But my kids need to know that I believe in them and that I am on their side even when it feels like everyone else is against them. I think the trust for that is built in the small moments.
Now…if I could apply it all the time to all of my other relationships, too…seems like it could be a real practical application of thinking of others more than myself.
Thanks for the thought-provoking post.
AMEN! Yes we do need to spurn each other on. I was hurt pretty badly recently be a friend over the whole jealously thing recently. Not good.
I’m praying blessings over her, trusting the Lord with work in and through it.