{"id":2482,"date":"2012-02-01T08:19:42","date_gmt":"2012-02-01T13:19:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/simplelife\/?p=2482"},"modified":"2012-02-01T09:23:14","modified_gmt":"2012-02-01T14:23:14","slug":"the-chess-games","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/simplelife\/2012\/02\/the-chess-games.html","title":{"rendered":"The chess games"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>My husband would not play chess with me because he said that I pulled down his game. \u00a0Naturally, I thought I was a terrible chess player until I played with some other folks who were supposed to be pretty good at the game. \u00a0When I was able to beat them, I realized that I wasn’t such a bad player. \u00a0It was simply that my husband was a much better chess player than most folks. \u00a0I had known that he almost never lost a game; but my experience playing with him proved the point.<\/p>\n

At times, we don’t know how good or bad we are until we compare ourselves with someone who is much more superior. \u00a0The Bible warns that we should never measure ourselves with ourselves. \u00a0We should always compare ourselves with the Lord, who is perfection.<\/p>\n

Working with people who have at least one disability, I find that their self-esteem is in continual flux. \u00a0Most of the time, they are pretty content inside their own skin. \u00a0However, there are those who are quick to point out the faults of anyone who works with them. \u00a0The first time I drove a van full of Special Gathering members I was stopped for speeding. \u00a0I was going 25 in 20 mile per hour township. \u00a0Of course, I only received a warning; but I was ribbed for years for that big mistake.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>I’ve learned from them that constant comparison can be hazardous to the well-being and health of others. \u00a0In reality, it probably doesn’t benefit anyone to compare and constrast ourselves with anyone other than the Lord. \u00a0The bonus we receive by having Jesus as our point man is that He is always compassionate with our forbles. \u00a0In addition, the Lord not only corrects but He forgives without condemnation. \u00a0Third, the Lord has all knowledge. \u00a0When I fail and submit our failure to Him, the Lord helps me to learn from my mistakes rather than keep repeating the same mistakes again and again.<\/p>\n

I’ve never been able to conquer much in chess. \u00a0Until he died, my husband proclaimed that he didn’t want to face me across the chess board. \u00a0Even among our members who are intellectually disabled, I find myself deficient in a battle of wits more times than I care to admit. \u00a0Yet, when I compare myself to the Lord, I find that He is always superior. \u00a0Nevertheless, facing Him keeps me humble while building my self-esteem and improving my performance every time.<\/p>\n

Sound impossible? \u00a0I know. \u00a0But He is God.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

My husband would not play chess with me because he said that I pulled down his game. \u00a0Naturally, I thought I was a terrible chess player until I played with some other folks who were supposed to be pretty good at the game. \u00a0When I was able to beat them, I realized that I wasn’t…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":387,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5,3,182,40,186,49,11,8,4],"tags":[690,21,688,7,699,715,701,694,689,6],"class_list":["post-2482","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-christianity","category-developmental-disabilities","category-disability","category-faith","category-hope","category-inspiration","category-intellectually-disabled","category-mentally-challenged-community","category-simple-truths","tag-autism-spectrum","tag-christian","tag-christianity","tag-developmental-disabilities-2","tag-faith","tag-hope","tag-inspiration","tag-intellectual-disability","tag-mentally-challenged-community","tag-simple-scriptural-truths"],"yoast_head":"\nThe chess games - A Simple Life, a Childlike Faith<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/simplelife\/2012\/02\/the-chess-games.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The chess games - A Simple Life, a Childlike Faith\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"My husband would not play chess with me because he said that I pulled down his game. \u00a0Naturally, I thought I was a terrible chess player until I played with some other folks who were supposed to be pretty good at the game. \u00a0When I was able to beat them, I realized that I wasn’t…\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/simplelife\/2012\/02\/the-chess-games.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"A Simple Life, a Childlike Faith\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2012-02-01T13:19:42+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2012-02-01T14:23:14+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/simplelife\/files\/2012\/02\/chess-players-150x150.jpg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Linda G. 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