Last week my daughter’s varsity cheer squad competed in a national competition. They are a highly-talented and experienced group with the potential to win or at least place very high in the competition. Unfortunately, Murphy’s Law ruled and they placed a miserable 18th (out of 20 in the division). They were devastated.

Since I believe that all things really do work together for good (Romans 8:28), I’ve been thinking about what kind of good can come of this defeat. We learned:

• Our self-worth is not tied to our achievements and defeat does not take away our gifts, talents and abilities.
• Those who truly count in our lives love and accept us despite our defeat.
• Sometimes we are better for having tried that which is difficult, even if we fail.

They could have played it safe and won handily with a simple routine that didn’t stretch or push them in any way. But their coach, recognizing their talent and abilities, crafted one of the most creative — and difficult — cheer routines I have ever seen. It required amazing strength, endurance and confidence; and it pressed them to learn new things that they would otherwise never have known; they were stretched to (and perhaps beyond) their limits.

Though winning is much more fun, I’m kind of glad they shot for the moon; maybe we all need to try something that is far too difficult from time to time, instead of always going with what we know is safe.