January 6

UNITY is paying back a sacrifice

Happy is the person who remains faithful under trials.  ~ James 1:12

It was the first year for canoe racing in the 1924 Olympics.  Bill Havens was on the four-man team to represent the U.S. in Paris.  But as the time for departure neared, it was clear that his wife would give birth to their first child while he was away.  Bill hesitated.  His wife insisted that he go.  But the more Bill thought about it, the more he felt his priorities lay with his wife and their first child.  An alternate member took Bill’s place. 

The team went to Paris and won the gold.  Meanwhile, Bill’s wife was late in giving birth to a boy, whom they would name Frank.  Bill never mentioned his disappointment in missing out on the Olympics. 

In 1952, Bill got a cable from Helsinki, where the Olympics were going on.  It read: 

I’m bringing home
the gold medal you lost
while waiting for me to be born.  ~ Frank
~ Mark Link, S.J.

What was the biggest sacrifice you’ve made for your family?  What was the biggest sacrifice you’ve made for your council?

If you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain.  ~ D. Parton

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