A season for every activity under Heaven...

When you are a parent, there are myriad milestones that you reach in the lives of your children. We reached a big one last week-the last game of high school district play soccer ever for our Hannah. For the past four years of high school we have trudged a propane heater, sometimes an umbrella,  and always many blankets to gladly watch our baby girl do something she loves. In Louisiana, the high school soccer season runs from the end of October to the beginning of February. It isn't for the faint of heart...whether you are a spectator or player. It is always fun to see how many girls brave the game without Under Armour. Very few teams are given the priviledge of being able to play in their home stadiums. They typically play at recreational complexes run by the Parish. You really have to love the game to participate...or just be plain crazy.
 

2006

 

I have been reflecting on some of the lessons that she has learned and that I have learned. This is another area of my life where the Lord has graciously given me a "do-over". I guess you could call me a soccer mom...I played growing up....and also for 2 high schools. However...the lessons I learned this go 'round were much more applicable to my walk. I had the privilege of coaching Hannah on some off-season teams as well as being a spectator.  Some of these lessons weren't easy-for either one of us. Some were more fun than others. High school sports can be so many things UNGODLY, but the Lord can also use them in many ways. Some of the lessons that Hannah learned aren't necessarily Biblical...they are just life lessons-character building lessons. But some lessons are precisely what I think the Lord had in mind for us when we participate in sports.

Life is hard work and you get beat up sometimes. Not everything is fair. Sometimes people aren't nice. We can't be idle and expect results. When you love something, you devote yourself to it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When the Lord gives us a talent or a skill, we are given it to glorify Him and Him alone. We are not to become prideful. We are to share our talent and skills in an effort to bring Him glory.

 

Hannah assisiting an Upward team at Cypress Baptist

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Patience and self-control are fruits of the Spirit and sports help fine tune them-like when you have to wait to take that shot on goal....

 or when you need to NOT comment on a call by the referee ...

or when you get frustrated with your team or your coach or your parents on the sidelines....

Score!!

 

 

                                                                             

Sports can also give the enemy a good opportunity to encourage us to lose our witness. We need to constantly be on guard. When we score or win we need to remember not to be prideful. It is not about us. We should not be selfish. We should be encouragers. We need to respect our elders and the people in authority over us(refs, coaches).  We need to continuously thank the Lord for these opportunities.

 

Praying before the game

The Lord plants friendships and we need to remember to be thankful and continuously water those seeds. They are in our lives for a reason and not just to help us on the field. We are placed in each other's lives for "such a time as this". He wants us to share life with them, share Him with them....not just our sport.

 

Lifelong friends

Ecclesiastes 3:1

"There is a time for everything , and a season for every activity under the heavens:"

 

 

Our identity is not something we find in school pride, in our alma mater, in our sport, in our letter jacket or our jersey number. And parents...our identity is not in how well our child does in sports...or if they will play at the college level. If we are  born again.....our identity is found in Christ alone. Although these are fun seasons in our lives, they don't last forever. We can search them for the Lord's purpose and use them to glorify Him, and be thankful.

 

We love you  Hannah Beth and will be forever grateful for the joy you brought us over the past four years...not only with your growth as a player, but your growth as a young Christian woman. I also want to thank you for giving me the chance to learn the lessons I did not learn when I played, primarily through you leading by example. The Lord has used you once again.

 

To Him alone be the glory.