December 10, 2012

Gabby Douglass on her Disease, Homelessness and Olympic Gold

Olympian Gabby Douglass' new book is coming out this December, Grace, Gold and Glory, My Leap of Faith. In the book she describes how she overcame such trials as a rare blood disease, homelessness and racism on the path to Olympic gold. It seems that Olympians have often experienced trials and these trials have helped them to persevere and become more determined. In a recent CBN interview Douglass described how her mother prayed for healing for Gabby's rare blood disease that she had as a baby: 

"When I was a baby I was very sick. I remember my mom just telling me that she kept praying and praying for me every single night when I was up coughing or I couldn't keep food down," she recalled. "And she was just praying, praying for me every single night and finally God answered her prayers."
According to an interview, Douglass and her family were homeless and lived in a van when she was a baby. Gabby also described how racism reared its ugly head at times in her life. She had described a bit of this when she was on Oprah, "I was just, you know, kind of getting racist jokes, kind of being isolated from the group," she told Winfrey in the interview. "So it was definitely hard. I would come home at night and just cry my eyes out." The gym denies there was any racism. Of course, it wouldn't be an official policy of any gym. But it seems there were individuals in the gym who definitely had an effect on the burgeoning star. 

The US achieved an historic gold medal count this year winning 46 Gold medals exceeding even China. Douglass became the first African American to be named the world's best all-around gymnast. It is the most medals the US has won since 1904 irrespective of boycotted games. A number of interesting Christian testimonies have surfaced among the ranks of the US Olympians, such as diver David Boudia and runner Allyson Felix. The Apostle Paul used Olympic terms and Olympic metaphors in many of his spiritual teachings. 

Tags: new book by Gabby Douglass, Gabby Douglass homeless, Gabby Douglass blood disease, Gabby Douglass racism, testimony Gabby Douglass, Oprah Gabby Douglass

Related:

Gabrielle Douglas Gives God the Glory for Olympic Gold Medals

US Gold Medalist Diver David Boudia Gives God the Glory

Faith Key Factor in Placing USA First in London Olympic Medals Count

5 comments:

  1. R:she recalled. "And she was just praying, praying for me every single night and finally God answered her prayers."

    So why does god do not cure amputees? 8)

    R:A number of interesting Christian testimonies have surfaced among the ranks of the US Olympians, such as diver David Boudia and runner Allyson Felix.

    Your claim that christian faith has an impact on sport s performance has been debunked before.

    http://www.economist.com/node/21559772

    Statistics and reality can be a bitch... But who needs statistics and reality if we have the spooky spirit telling us what is right and wrong? 8)

    ReplyDelete
  2. >So why does god do not cure amputees?

    1. Periods of history

    Why does the Bible discuss a period of history with many miracles? The New Testament was written during a time when God was building up the church and dramatic miracles were actually required in terms of the fulfillment of prophecy. For example, John the Baptist was doubting whether Jesus was the Messiah. and, because there were prophecies of the Messiah performing specific miracles, Jesus emphasized his actions validated his role:

    So he replied to the messengers, "Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor.

    http://bible.cc/luke/7-22.htm

    God works differently in different periods of history. This is spelled out in the Bible. At times God built of His people by demonstrating more miracles. At other times god tested his people by restraining miracles. And there are more aspects of this question that have been summarized in a doctrine known as dispensationalism:

    http://www.gotquestions.org/seven-dispensations.html

    >Your claim that christian faith has an impact on sport s performance has been debunked before.

    Your link refers to 'atheist countries' but how do you differentiate between the belief in atheism and the strict politics and training regimes that typify some atheist countries?

    One of the commenters pointed out this factor:

    Li Na, the Chinese tennis superstar recently lambasted the Chinese training system. She hated it. Actually silver medalist swimmer Lu Ying also came out against the training system just yesterday:

    http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/07/29/oly-swim-sww1bu-chn-idUSL6E8IT...

    ReplyDelete
  3. R:God works differently in different periods of history. This is spelled out in the Bible. At times God built of His people by demonstrating more miracles. At other times god tested his people by restraining miracles.

    So what is the point of sharing today s "miracles" if they are not convincing? And why test one s faith in the first place?

    R:Your link refers to 'atheist countries' but how do you differentiate between the belief in atheism and the strict politics and training regimes that typify some atheist countries?

    Rick, you made a claim that belief in christianity will help improve one s perfomance in sports. Statitics show that belief in a deity is irrelevant, but you still press on with your false claims. Is it dishonesty to do so from your part and peaople will rightfully accuse you of being a liar fo Jesus if you persist.

    I never claimed that atheism has a bearing on the perfomanceof sportsmen. It is the training system that gets results.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hi, Rick; I'm glad to see you're learning at least some of the lessons.

    Gabi's story is inspiring -- the way many people's stories are inspiring.

    I am glad, however, that you left out the claims regarding correlations between Christianity and successful performance, or claimed a causative factor -- your last paragraph hints in that direction, and I'm sure the audience who wants to believe that to be true will believe it to be so.

    However, as pointed out here:
    http://templestream.blogspot.com/2012/08/the-faith-factor-in-placing-usa-first.html?showComment=1344527177663#c8527488655388232616

    and here:

    http://templestream.blogspot.com/2012/08/the-faith-factor-in-placing-usa-first.html?showComment=1345044300273#c8334580582674030045

    It simply isn't so, at least by any objective measurement we can use.


    ReplyDelete
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