Success for you & me
The email came through just as I had settled back into bed with my youngest for a morning session of milk and snuggles.
Sessions that used to take place daily, but are growing less and less frequent with time.
My pulse quickened as I read the subject line. The body of the email contained the list of semi-finalists for the unpublished writers’ contest I’d entered two months ago.
Last year, I’d entered the same contest with high hopes, only to have those hopes shredded with each line of critique from the judges.
This years’ expectations were set much lower, but still, I had an ounce of hope. Maybe, just maybe, after all the many adjustments, improvements, and revisions, I’d stand a chance.
My eyes scanned the categories for a quick reveal of what I’d expected. My name was nowhere to be found.
But my friend’s was.
During the early years of marriage, when I was a working woman with no children and high career ambitions, I would easily find myself entangled in competitive, jealous wrestling matches with my husband.
I know that sounds petty, and I’m embarrassed to admit that, but God began teaching me an important lifelong lesson. When my husband received a significant raise and I didn’t, I’d view it as an insult to my performance. Never mind we had completely different employers. Or when he got a new title or responsibility, I took it as a threat to my capabilities. By gosh, I was just as smart and able and efficient, and I needed those same things, at the same time, to maintain the proof.
Over time, and with maturity, God revealed to me that success for him was, in fact, success for me. Because we were a team. And as he advanced, achieving his goals and dreams, it would pave the way for me to reach mine.
Just differently than I imagined.
And that same lesson has been extended to the friends God has placed in my life.
We have two options when we see others succeed: we can cheer them on, or we can jealously compete. And I don’t know about you, but I’ve found the former to be much more beneficial for all parties involved.
As we elevate one another, spurring each other towards to finish line, we understand that we are actually achieving the same goal: glorying God and bringing honor to His name. And when God grants us the opportunity we’ve been praying for, we realize we didn’t arrive there on our own.
So root for the people around you. Cheer them on with the same fervor you’d love to be cheered for, yourself. We are all running this race together. It might not be your lap, or even your turn to hold the baton. But as you wait, arm stretched out and hand wide open, yell your lungs out because there is a beautiful blessing awaiting all of us at the finish line.
