The Man in the Arena

"It is not the critic who counts. Not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause. Who, at the best, knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat."

- Theodore Roosevelt

 

 

P.S.  With that said:  To those of you who feel it your sacred duty to criticize, slander, and shun people who have been in the arena of a certain trial and made decisions you may not fully understand, maybe even fallen once or twice... you can really stop right now, because you weren't in the arena so what you have to say doesn't really count.  Perhaps, instead of throwing dirt, try extending the healing balm of grace or giving a cup of cold water to refresh the weary fighter, for a change.  That, after all, was Jesus' sacred duty, and aren't we called to be like Him?  

~Melanie