Bonnie St. John Deane never allowed her disability to slow her down.  Dean was a one-legged skier who frequently competed in the Paralympics.  Her resolve and optimism enabled her to excel among her peers. 

     In one particular race Deane fell down while competing with another impaired racer.  When she finished in second place her critics told her she was much slower than her rival.  Dean said of her competition, “No, she is not a faster skier; she just got up quicker than I did.  People fall down.  Winners get up.  Gold medal winners get up faster.”  On that day, Deane won the silver medal realizing she was just a tad bit slower at getting up.

     The difference in first place and second place is not perfection; it is the ability to quickly rise up after the falls.  As Zig Ziglar said, “Failure is not falling down – failure is not getting back up.”

     In the race of life there will be falls and failures.  Those who finish strong are those who learn to bounce back.  Don’t allow much time to pass during the falls.  Bonnie St. John Deane was right – we all fall down, but the winners get up faster.  With the help of God, get back up, set your eyes upon the prize, and keep moving ahead.  The gold is waiting.