Crown of life

"Papa, I don't like Sports Day," Deborah said the night before her first Sports Day.

"Why?" I asked.

"I'm scared that I lose," she said.

"Deborah, losing is not a problem. You see, in any competition, if someone wins, another person loses. We don't win all the time. Even for yeh-yeh (grandfather), although he has won many marathons, he doesn't win all the time. Sometimes he gets second or third place, and sometimes he may not even get any of the top 3 positions." I said.

"What's important, Deborah, is that you try your best," I added.

In our family prayer that night, we prayed for good weather, for Deborah to try her best and not to be anxious about anything, and for all the children to be safe and be in good health for the sports meet.

It was a bright and sunny day. In fact, just the day before, it was pouring like any other day in the recent weeks. There was much excitement and a carnival-like mood in the air. Proud parents and grandparents were toting digital and video cameras, gearing up to capture a slice of their kids' actions. Almost no one sat at the stadium grandstand as people were busy cheering and snapping away with their cameras. Event after event, the kids ranging from 4 to 6 years of age, ran, hopped, skipped or cycled away, oblivious to the cheering. Most of them were simply enjoying themselves, which is something of a rarity in this highly competitive society. In fact, the emcee had to urge some kids to move faster than the pace of liang popo, the famous Singapore TV grandma persona who goes "hoo-hoo-hoo" as she shuffles along like a snail.

Deborah stole a glance occasionally where Veron, Rachel and I were seated at the grandstand before her event. We gave her a thumbs-up, while her little sister shouted "Deborah, Deborah". Finally, her event came, the Bean Bag Throw, where the contestants had to run from one end to the other, throw a bean bag into a basket, and run back to tag the next runner in the team. Deborah gave her best, as part of a team of about 20 kids. When they finished, everyone in their lane, including the teachers, were jumping with joy and pumping their fists into the air. They had come in first in this race. This was a bonus, something we didn't pray for.

When the games ended, we met Josiah, friend of Deborah and Rachel at our church's nursery class. His team won first place too, in the Bicycle Race. We took a snapshot of the 3 little kids at the stadium tracks, with Deborah and Josiah holding their trophies, and Rachel the tireless supporter.

It was a memorable event for us.

I know in my heart that I need to help Deborah and Rachel understand that in life's situations, we may not win all the time, but it's important that we give our utmost for His Highest, as what Oswald Chambers says. We can afford to lose every race in life except for one, the race to life itself, whose trophy is the crown of life (James 1:12).

Happy living,

Thomas