On Sunday, March 9, 2014, The Post Game Staff posted on Yahoo the following report about sportsmanship and love.
“A high school wrestler’s amazing gesture after a loss in the state championship match brought tears to the eyes of many spectators, and it’s not hard to see why.
“After falling to Mitchell McKee in Minnesota’s 120-pound class, Malik Stewart went over and embraced McKee’s father, Steve, who is battling terminal cancer.
“‘I got a little teary because I lost the match, and I knew the hard times he was going through,’ Stewart told KARE 11. ‘The crowd went wild and I heard a couple people say after I did it – that was pretty classy – but I just did it straight from the heart.’
“As it turns out, Stewart can relate to what Mitchell McKee is going through. Stewart’s father suffered a heart attack and died when Stewart was 7.
“‘It was a big match for him and to be able to hug my dad like that and not be mad and storm off like a lot of kids do,’ McKee said. ‘Really respectful.’”
What makes this story so compelling to hear, and to watch on the video clip, is that the two wrestlers were bound by a greater love, love for family and love for life.
The apostle James wrote that life is a vapor that “appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away” (Jas. 4:14).
For many, by the time this truth is realized, it is too late. It is too late to tell others how much you love them. It is too late to reverse the clock and watch the children grow up. It is too late to recapture moments of intimacy. It is too late to hug. It is too late to hear the voice of someone you care for. It is too late to properly say, “I am sorry.” It is too late to live for the Lord.
A simple hug from a defeated wrestler to the victorious opponent’s parent battling terminal cancer brought tears to the audience in a sports arena because of spontaneous act of authentic kindness.
More than two thousand years ago, on a hill outside of Jerusalem, at a place called Calvary, there was another expression of grace and kindness. It was not spontaneous, though. It had been planned before the world began. In eternity past God the Father determined to give His only begotten Son to die for the sins of the world that whosoever should believe in Him should never perish but have eternal life. With outstretched arms Jesus died in order to one day hug sinners to His heart. Jesus came to redeem souls so that they in turn might love one another. “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” (John 13:34-35).
The best way to love one another is by living for Jesus. When this is done, individuals will find themselves, bound by a greater love.
Living for Jesus, a life that is true,
Striving to please Him in all that I do;
Yielding allegiance, glad hearted and free,
This is the pathway of blessing for me.O Jesus, Lord and Savior, I give myself to Thee,
For Thou, in Thy atonement, didst give Thyself for me.
I own no other Master, my heart shall be Thy throne.
My life I give, henceforth to live, O Christ, for Thee alone.Living for Jesus Who died in my place,
Bearing on Calvary my sin and disgrace;
Such love constrains me to answer His call,
Follow His leading and give Him my all.Living for Jesus, wherever I am,
Doing each duty in His holy Name;
Willing to suffer affliction and loss,
Deeming each trial a part of my cross.Living for Jesus through earth’s little while,
My dearest treasure, the light of His smile;
Seeking the lost ones He died to redeem,
Bringing the weary to find rest in Him.”Thomas O. Chisholm, 1917