Great Britain is celebrating this week! The Lions won the Rugby Test Series for the 1st time in 16 years, & Andy Murray became Wimbledon Champion, the 1st British player to do so since 1977, & the 1st male to do so since 1936!

Since Andy Murray was young, he has dreamed of winning Wimbledon – of all the Grand Slams, Wimbledon seems to be the most special one to win for all the players. Accomplishing that dream hasn’t been easy for him and he has had to work hard in training and then out on the court during the tournament to achieve that result.

12 months ago, he was bitterly disappointed, having lost in the Wimbledon final. He had come so close, and yet it was still out of reach. But what I admire about him is that he didn’t give up. A few weeks later, he was back at Wimbledon, this time for the Olympics and ended up winning a gold medal playing against the same player he had lost to only weeks before! He then went on to win the US Open. Now, finally, he has the trophy and title he has always wanted: Wimbledon Champion.

He has a great team behind him: a close loving family who support his dreams, a coach who is willing to tell it straight and he is willing to listen, a trainer who helps him increase his stamina and fitness, and many others all who are surrounding him each with their own special skill to help Andy become the player he needs to be.

I wonder; do we keep in mind, like sports players do, the ultimate goal – the prize at the end. For those who have accepted Jesus as their Saviour, we have a home in heaven to press towards, eternal life to look forward to and a reward for how well we have lived for Him. Are we also aiming for the commendation “Well done, good and faithful servant?” Are we also teaching this to our children?

When times are hard, do we pick ourselves up and go on, try again? Or do we give up? Are we teaching our children how to pick themselves up when things go wrong, and try again?

Also, are we surrounding those about us – family, friends, church members – with the support they need to carry on with life? Are we teaching them, coming alongside them to encourage or help, offering our gifts – whatever it is they need, are we there for them?

May we, at the end of our lives be able to say as the Apostle Paul did, that:

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.” 2 Timothy 4:8 NKJV

In the meantime, let us say

“but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13-14 NKJV