The first time around the track of the 1,500 meter run was pure joy.  I was in the best shape of my life.  It was 1972; I was running in the Macabean Games in Israel’s Mediterranean town of Haifa - Israel’s Olympic trials.  The second time around the track I settled into a practiced rhythm.  The third lap was work, hard and painful.  It was the last lap that would send the victor to Munich and the Olympic games. 

I was leading around the first and second turns.  On the backstretch, not just one of my competitors caught me, but all of them passed me – flying.  I had no reserve left.  This is where all my endurance training should have left me with the feeling of exhilaration.  I should have been able to lengthen my stride, drive my arms and fight everyone off to reach the tape first.  Into the third corner I was still with the pack, but I knew I was no longer in contention to win the race.  Tears came to my eyes.  I tightened up.  I was a looser.  Suddenly the crowd erupted with cheers.  I looked up and saw people on their feet, yelling and waving us toward the finish line – as if they could carry us weary athletes the last 50 meters.  Adrenaline hit.  I straightened up and drove with pride to meet my fellow competitors at the finish line.  I was greeted with hugs, I congratulated the winner.  I ran a lap with my fellow athletes to the cheers of the crowd.  No, I wasn’t the winner of that race.  I never made any Olympic team.  But the crowd’s encouragement had picked off the bottom and carried me to complete the race.  They made me feel a champion.

How about our spouses, our children?  Has your child not studied as they should have and received a poor grade on an exam?  Has your spouse made a poor decision at work that cost the sale of a lucrative contract?  When they come home defeated, how are they greeted?  “You should have studied harder!  You cannot play with your friends on Saturday, but have to study till your grades improve!”  Or to your defeated spouse, “How can I possibly keep running our home without money?”  What would it be like if instead, they received a hug and, “I love you, am proud of you and encourage you to try again.  You can do it!”  See if your encouragement doesn’t pick them off the bottom and carry them to the tape.

None of us are perfect as individuals – nor are our marriages perfect.  As we work together to maintain our love and a strong marriage, our homes will be a good environment for growing and happy children.