Last week while I was trying to write my article, I got distracted and decided to watch a video that many of my Facebook friends had shared. They talked about what a great testimony it was, so I wanted to know what the fuss was about. I watch the video which is titled “I am Second.” It was story about Shawn Johnson and her trials during and after her Olympic debut. She talked about how she overcame the trials, and it really hit home with me. I realized that she had taught me many valuable lessons in the video. Lessons that I want to share with all of you because I feel that it can truly help many people.

1. It is hard to not get something that you really want.

Shawn really wanted to win Gold at the Olympics. Isn’t that what everyone strives for at the Olympics? She knew that she couldn’t get gold all-round, but she still worked hard. She received silver instead a few times, and by the time she did get a gold, it didn’t feel rewarding like she wanted it too.

2. Sometimes you will feel like a failure.

Shawn Johnson felt that she had failed because she didn’t get but one gold medal. She had gotten three silver which validated that she was second. It doesn’t matter who you are, when you feel strongly about something and it doesn’t work out, you feel like you fail even if you really didn’t.

3. People will judge you.

After coming home from the Olympic Games in 2008, Shawn received criticism about everything. She was on an international stage, so people talked about what she wore, how she looked, and even what she did in competition. It is hard to handle people judging you, but the sad news is that people are going to do it no matter what you do. You just have to try and ignore it which is not always easy.

4. Comparison of yourself to other people can affect you a lot.

You want to be the skinniest, the best looking, the best athlete, etc, when you’re not, it stinks. So, you try to become that other person which is not a good thing and can lead to serious problems.

5. You will hit your low sometimes before you start the climb back to your high point.

6. You need to be concerned about making God and yourself happy, not everyone else in the world happy.

7. God is the only one who can lift your burdens from your shoulders.

8. God is the answer to everything.

Anything you need or are worried about, God can take care of it. He is the One and Only and God Almighty who can do anything and everything.

9. Our purpose is not to be the best at everything, it is to bring glory to God every day.

We can strive to be the best, but that is not the purpose God created us for. He has a greater purpose for each and every one of us.

10. We are Second.

God is first always and forever. It is ok to be second.

I love this video so much because we all can relate to it. I believe that Shawn Johnson is a true role model for people everywhere in the world. I strongly encourage you to watch this video and to live every day saying I am Second.