I’ve spent this entire week discussing genealogies, but today I want to share 
a wonderful (and at times heartbreaking) true story about a little boy who 
was abandoned by his parents in South Africa and was taken in
by a very brave and godly black woman. 
He had no clue what his genealogy was, but over the years, 
he learned that every last one of us has been born to win! 
Born to Win (the 2014 version from Union of South Africa) 
shares what it’s like to grow up without parents,
trying to survive in a harsh world during the Apartheid, 
when the police would rather a white child be an orphan
than grow up in a loving black family. 
While all his teammates were out having fun in college,
Leon was shoveling coal on a train to pay his way. 
Although Leon eventually married a beautiful model, he felt like such a loser on the inside that he almost ruined his marriage through alcohol abuse and neglect. 
Desperate for answers, his wife and daughter found help, but Leon was resistant. 
However, something terrible happened 
that changed his life forever. 
Today, he’s doing something awesome. Wouldn’t you like to know what??!
As it says on IMDb: Born to Win is “A true story of how God turns the hurt, frustration and emptiness of a man into hope, faith and victory
to inspire many to be the winners they were born to be.” 
Do you ever feel like a loser? No pedigree; no special gifts or talents?
Terrible background or present circumstances that make your future seem dark? 
Take heart! God has a good plan for you! It may not be what you’d like, but it will bring honor and glory to God, and in the end, it will bring you joy as well!
I’m sure Leon wouldn’t have chosen to have been abandoned by his parents, 
but he wouldn’t be where he’s at today
if he hadn’t come from where he’s come from. 
God has a special path and plan for each of us which is good, even though
much of the time we may feel confused and unsure about what’s happening.
TRUST HIM!
“But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.”
(Matthew 19:30).
“Know ye not that they which run in a race run all,
but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain” (1 Corinthians 19:24).
Summer Setting 