Quote

There’s something about valuing people not because they value you, but because you can see God in them.

Bill Johnson

Real Life

In the 2024 Olympic Badminton semi-final, He Bingjiao from China was competing against Spain’s Carolina Marin. Marin had previously won an Olympic gold while Bingjiao had medalled in other international events but was yet to win an Olympic medal.

During the second game of the semi-final match, with Marin leading, Marin jumped to execute a backhand shot and fell awkwardly, badly injuring her knee. She received some treatment, strapped on a knee brace and attempted to continue. After only two further points, both of which she lost, she limped from the court and withdrew from the competition. She was devastated.

Bingjiao progressed to the next round and finished with a silver medal. When she went up to receive her medal on the podium, she was holding up a small Spanish pin in recognition of Marin. It was a gracious and generous gesture and one that meant a lot to Marin. Marin later said “the moment on the podium is one of the loveliest gestures anyone has ever made to me and I will always be incredibly grateful to her.”

To overcome our opponents, we may think that we need to show them no mercy. While that may be true in the shots we play, how hard we run or the effort we put in, it is not true overall. We can give our all to take our opponents down while still seeing them as fellow human beings who deserves our respect.

We are all made in God’s image, as it says in Genesis 1, so we all have innate value. Everyone deserves to be treated with respect and compassion, even our rivals. Whether we get on well with them or not, whether they are better than us of not, whether we like them or not. To treat others badly or delight in their downfall reflects poor character, while demonstrating grace and generosity uplifts all involved.

Bible Verse

God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God He created them; male and female He created them.

Genesis 1:27

Prayer

Lord help me to be gracious, generous and respectful even when I am giving my all to be victorious over others. Show me how to be driven to succeed while still respecting all those around me.

Author: Sarah Auld   |   Content Editor: Phil Pawley