We caught up with Molly Parris, a senior gymnast at Eastern Michigan University to ask her about her faith and athletic career. Molly is also the president of the EMU Athletes In Action Christian-based organization. Here's what she had to say!
Q: What made you want to be a college gymnast?
A: "From a young age, I saw the older girls at my gym go off to school and get scholarships for gymnastics, so I always looked up to them and wanted to do the same. I also went to a lot of college meets when was younger, and it always looked like so much fun to be on a team and represent your school."
Q: How do keep your focus on God throughout your day as a collegiate athlete?
A: "I try to keep the mindset and perspective that being a college athlete and doing gymnastics at the the level that I am is a blessing from the Lord, and it's all because of Him that I have the opportunity to be here and do what I love. Every chance that I get to compete and practice is a testament to His grace that He shows us."
Q: What advice would you give someone who is struggling in their relationship with God?
A: "I would say just continue to seek God even in the midst of any difficult circumstance you might face because the Lord is good and He is always proving Himself to be good. The foundation of our faith is in what Jesus did on the cross, and that is never changing. So while we live in a world that is constantly changing, we have hope in Jesus. I would also say that where our ideal is lacking, His grace abounds and so if you are struggling, just continue to seek Him because you will see His grace more clearly the more that you seek Him. Know that you are exactly where the Lord wants you to be, and there is no mistake in what you are going through because He makes no mistakes. We can be confident that everything is being used for our good.
