As we observe another Olympic season, I feel the excitement and disappointment of the athletes. I see the heartbreak of those who miss a gate, fall down, or come up shorter than they had hoped. In contrast, I see the faces of others light up when they earn a medal. However, there are two groups that I feel I learn the most from:
- Those who thought they deserved to win and didn’t. Sadly, I have heard a few in interviews who lean on excuse after excuse to explain why they didn’t win. They seem so focused on what they deserved.
- I am most impressed by those who show great satisfaction knowing they gave it their all, even if they didn’t win. They seem to allow themselves to be swallowed up in the experience of representing their country on the greatest stage in the world. They are Olympians.
What can we take from these athletes that we can apply in our couple relationships?
I think we need to avoid focusing on what we deserve in our relationships. Marriage can be hard work. Just like an athlete preparing for the Olympics, we need to put in consistent effort over a lengthy period of time to be able to be our best for our spouse. However, that still does not entitle us to anything. Marriage is not about what we get; it is about what give. We should care about our effort because we love our spouse more than we love ourselves. That is the great motivator; to be great for them because we love them. That is the medal we can earn in marriage: that we gave our all and loved it.
