LIMPING OF RONALDO

"LIMPING WITH THE TROPHY - LESSONS FROM FRANCE VS PORTUGAL

 France played against Portugal to vie for the coveted  UEFA EURO CUP. It is history now as Portugal defeated the host nation and won the cup. Much have been written and said in the last twenty four hours on that final match.

Let me tell you what happened in my sitting room while my friend and myself watched the match. I had requested my friend  to watch the match with me and he obliged. Each time RONALDO made attempts to play, desperate efforts were made to hack him down. My friend started complaining early in the match. "These French guys want to injure Ronaldo so that they can easily win" He lamented. One particular incidence saw two French boys clearly go after Ronaldo's legs. They forgot the ball. My friend kept saying :" I told you. They appear to be under instruction or conspiracy to get Ronaldo out of the match as early as possible".

Finally , Ronaldo was out. Out on a stretcher !!!. On the 25th minute!!!. He was in tears. Fans had their hands on their heads. They seemed to say its all over for the team. Then my friend lost his cool." These French boys are competing unfairly. This is not football again. You cannot deliberately injure a star player  because you want to win", He lamented. Finally my friend said :" God does not like unfairness. Mark it. Because of the way the French boys went about this game, they will lose". As if to close the matter, he said he would  no longer watch the match. He slept off on the couch .I woke him up after the game. Just in time to show him limping Ronaldo with the trophy. He only said ":I told you". He went back to sleep.

Here we go with the LESSONS.
First, NOBODY CAN  GO UP IN LIFE BY BRINGING RIVALS DOWN. Ask the French national football team. Reconfirm from my wife. Destroying ones colleagues will not build the destroyer  up. Assassinating the character of others does not build one's character. Those who bring others down end up being brought down. God is the only ONE who can bring a person down or raise a person up (Psalm 75:6-7)

Secondly, IN ORDER TO HELP THE TEAM, LEAVE THE FIELD WHEN YOU ARE INJURED. As soon as Ronaldo received the last knock, he signaled to the coaching crew that he should be changed. No matter how good a star is, he will harm the team if he plays injured. We have heard about some players who mask their injury and still "try" and play. When you are sick, let people know you are sick. Excuse yourself from the office. Excuse yourself from functions. It is not a sin to fall sick. If you are a pastor and you feel "empty" on a Sunday  morning , do not mount that pulpit. Let your deputy stand in. You cannot "offload " anything from an empty container.

Thirdly, AN INJURED PLAYER CAN BE USEFUL OFF THE PITCH. Did you watch Ronaldo  off the pitch ? He was inspiring and encouraging the players during the two extra time breaks. He was patting them on the back. At a time the commentator said Ronaldo had become the unofficial assistant coach. He was limping  around on the touch line. He seemed to be saying "They got me out of the pitch, but I am still here to inspire the rest of you to win." Your elderly parents may be "off the pitch", but they can still give you good counsel. Your elderly uncles, aunties ,grand mas and grand pas may be "off the pitch" on account of old age but they they are still by the touch line. Experience never goes out of fashion. Listen to them.

Fourthly, WEEPING CAN BE TURNED INTO JOY. (Psalm 30:5). Ronaldo wept  like a baby when he was being stretched out. He was the captain. At 31 he knew he could not play in the next UEFA EUROPE competition in four years time. This is one trophy he had never won.And it appeared to be slipping through his fingers again. Yet within less than two hours of weeping, RONALDO was laughing big. He was beaming with smiles with the trophy and posing for shots before the world media. It could make a movie. I am not sure of  what you are passing through now. Just remember the promise of God and the Ronaldo story. Soon your weeping will end and you will laugh last. Remain on the touchline.

Finally, A RELATIVELY UNKNOWN TEAM CAN BEAT A TEAM OF STARS.  Ask the Portuguese. Ask the French football team. LES BLEUS, the French national team is an assemblage of stars. Name them. PAYET. GRIEZMANN,SAGNA,EVRA,POGBA,MATUIDI,SISSOKO etc. Compared to the French, the Portuguese could only boast of a few established stars,( Ronaldo, Nani). Team spirit and commitment makes the difference. Do not be intimidated by the credentials of your opponents. Pedigree is good but if you do not have it, do not feel intimidated by those who have it. Many people whose children are excelling in Harvard, Stanford, Yale or Oxford, did not themselves attend ivy league schools. Some of the successful CEOs did not have privileged upbringing.Where you were born into has no direct relevance to where God is taking you to, if you are ready to work hard and live holy.

Recollect the face of RONALDO, limping and smiling with the TROPHY. Even if you have been "injured" by your rivals, I declare that you will soon receive your trophy.God bless you real good.

If this has blessed  you, freely share to your friends.

Forwarded as received.