Mary Kom Bronze Medallist Winner at The London Olympics

Prominent journalist Barkha Dutt tweeted: “Mary Kom you shouldn't be sorry. It is us who should be sorry for not giving you the love & facilities that was your due long ago.” Indian boxer MC Mary Kom has given her country more than just a sporting spectacle with her bronze medal win at the London Olympics. It may not have been apparent to the 29-year-old boxer, but her teary-eyed apology for not bringing home the gold has pulled the relatively isolated north-east Indian states much closer to the rest of the country.

She is from Manipur in the North Eastern part of India. A great Boxer, a humble person and has a wonderful family to support and above all she loves her country.

The mother-of-two hails from the remote state of Manipur in the country`s politically fragile north-eastern region, and her triumph is likely to integrate the country`s seven easterly states in the true sense.

Insurgency and violence have marked life in the north-eastern region for many years and the states have been unable to share the fruits of India`s economic growth. Kom herself has risen from supporting her farming-dependent family in the fields in Manipur, struggling without a proper kit and travelling long distances by bus or train. 

I do so understand how hard it is to see anything good if there is pressure and things are going bad. It's harder for us who have done it all before. The trick is to still see possibilities around us. To see the play of emotions on your coworker's face and realize today is not exactly the same to her as any other day. Today is a new chance. Today you can say something thoughtful, imaginative, helpful. Today you should think about what is possible.

 

You have to make the decision to see each moment as new and filled with possibilities.

Having and following a vision isn’t just for big dreamers and world-changers. Visions can be big or small. They can be global or local. But a vision doesn’t need to be complicated. At the very heart of having a life-vision is seeing a need—and meeting that need.

God has placed us in our jobs, our neighborhoods, and our families for a purpose—to meet the needs around us. Truly visionary people are those who have the ability to recognize the needs around them, as well as the determination and willingness to meet those needs.

How often do we see a need, yet do nothing about it? We may feel pity or concern, yet we stand back and do nothing. We are unwilling to risk our comfort, our reputation, and our security. But we cannot be that visionary person for God unless we are willing to risk everything for Him.

God wants you to make a difference in the lives of other people. He has given you your blessings, gifts, talents, resources, and connections for a reason.

I didn’t understand how to live a balanced life. I found it difficult to set boundaries, failed to establish margins of time for the unplanned or unexpected, and unwittingly surrendered my God-ordained priorities to the empty, vain addiction of just “doing the next thing” or pleasing the loudest voice. Balance can easily become a casualty of this ongoing battle. While sitting in the darkness, waiting on God, I discovered that the pit of despair is a very common destination for those who refuse to measure and balance the sometimes overwhelming demands of home, family, friends, work and personal growth. I had been running the race for the wrong audience and was relying on my own very limited power instead of God’s power.

But it is a big deal, because it is a breakdown here that leads to other things there. If we have a breakdown in one area of our lives, we might find ourselves going in the wrong direction.

I wish I could tell you that I now lead a perfectly balanced life, but the truth is that I constantly have to examine and evaluate my priorities and goals in order to find the holy balance God intends. Many of you tell me that you have the same struggle. Just like you, I have to make difficult choices between the good things and the best things. When I make the wrong choices, I can sense myself sliding toward the dangerous edge of that deep, dark pit. I don’t want to go there again – so the battle continues. The good news is that I don’t have to fight this battle alone and neither do you. God is with us, urging us toward the light and His restoration power that comes from a heart and life that rests and abides in Him.
 

William Arthur Ward wrote: 'Believe while others are doubting. Plan while others are playing... Decide while others are delaying. Prepare while others are daydreaming. Begin while others are procrastinating. Work while others are wishing. Save while others are wasting. Listen while others are talking. Smile while others are frowning... Persist while others are quitting.'

To win in life requires three things: (1) You must start. That may seem obvious, but many of us are stuck in the starting blocks waiting for something to get us going. What has God called and equipped you to do? Step out and do it, and He will empower you! (2) You must give it your all. Divers in the Olympics don't save all their effort for their final dive. They concentrate on nailing every single one, increasing their chances for a gold medal. Don't settle for mediocrity at any stage of life (Philippians 3:14). (3) You must never quit. In the 1992 Olympics, Derek Redmond of Britain was competing in the 400 meter race when he suffered a torn hamstring and fell. As the other runners breezed past him, he began to struggle to his feet. His father, whose face was covered with tears, suddenly ran down from the stands to help him up. Slowly, agonizingly, they made their way around the rest of the track and crossed the finish line as the stadium in Barcelona burst into thunderous applause. Redmond didn't win a medal, but he won something more important - the respect of the world.

The Bible says, 'Run in such a way as to get the prize.'

“I, like many others, have been inspired by Mary Kom and her relentless efforts to improve the lives of others around the globe through her sporting work.”

Blessings,

Raj Kosaraju