Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. -- James 1:17
Squeeze Jo Jo. Stomach in knots. Picking nail polish off my fingers. Pacing. Smiling. Cheering. Yep, it was a weekend at the softball diamonds watching our oldest daughter. I watched each game in nervous excitement as Jo and her teammates played. What I witnessed this weekend, was my daughter playing the game she loves...it wasn't about the wins or the losses...it was all just playing with talents that God has blessed her with. A confident "tweener" who has diligently practiced her softball skills and has become a talented catcher.
As I watch Calyn play softball, I reminisce. Just her mannerisms on the softball field reminds me of myself growing up. I could just see myself in her as she wipes the dirt with her foot after she throws out a runner, hangs her head after she strikes out...but the one thing that Jo does a better job at is being a positive teammate. I don't want it to sound like I wasn't a positie teammate, we have really emphasized with Calyn the importance of glorifying God in all you do... especially when playing sports. Just as she puts in the practice time, she needs to practice being a good teammate all the time. In some instances, the competitive spirit can make our emotions impact our teammates and ourselves negatively. Encouraging Calyn to consciously put the focus on God and her teammates, takes the focus off of herself.
Driving home the other night, Calyn said, "Mom, I think I did a good job of glorifying God this season." I thought, my oldest daughter is getting it...the purpose for why we should play...not for ourselves but for God and others. I asked her though, "Why do you think that?" Her response, "Mom, I encouraged the pitchers, I said cheers, and I tried not to get mad at myself for making mistakes." Then the tears streamed down my cheeks, my daughter is growing up, she is letting God fill her heart with love, she is learning to be selfless, she is learning to play for the right reasons.
Whatever the season is, whatever sport Calyn is playing, whatever instrument she is playing, whatever subject she is working on, each day I will always encourage her to use her talents to glorify God in all she does...because as Leo Buscaglia is quoted, " Our talents are the gift that God gives to us...what we make of our talents is our gift back to God."
So I leave you with just one thought, where are you going to put your focus?
Squeeze Jo Jo. Stomach in knots. Picking nail polish off my fingers. Pacing. Smiling. Cheering. Yep, it was a weekend at the softball diamonds watching our oldest daughter. I watched each game in nervous excitement as Jo and her teammates played. What I witnessed this weekend, was my daughter playing the game she loves...it wasn't about the wins or the losses...it was all just playing with talents that God has blessed her with. A confident "tweener" who has diligently practiced her softball skills and has become a talented catcher.
As I watch Calyn play softball, I reminisce. Just her mannerisms on the softball field reminds me of myself growing up. I could just see myself in her as she wipes the dirt with her foot after she throws out a runner, hangs her head after she strikes out...but the one thing that Jo does a better job at is being a positive teammate. I don't want it to sound like I wasn't a positie teammate, we have really emphasized with Calyn the importance of glorifying God in all you do... especially when playing sports. Just as she puts in the practice time, she needs to practice being a good teammate all the time. In some instances, the competitive spirit can make our emotions impact our teammates and ourselves negatively. Encouraging Calyn to consciously put the focus on God and her teammates, takes the focus off of herself.
Driving home the other night, Calyn said, "Mom, I think I did a good job of glorifying God this season." I thought, my oldest daughter is getting it...the purpose for why we should play...not for ourselves but for God and others. I asked her though, "Why do you think that?" Her response, "Mom, I encouraged the pitchers, I said cheers, and I tried not to get mad at myself for making mistakes." Then the tears streamed down my cheeks, my daughter is growing up, she is letting God fill her heart with love, she is learning to be selfless, she is learning to play for the right reasons.
Whatever the season is, whatever sport Calyn is playing, whatever instrument she is playing, whatever subject she is working on, each day I will always encourage her to use her talents to glorify God in all she does...because as Leo Buscaglia is quoted, " Our talents are the gift that God gives to us...what we make of our talents is our gift back to God."
So I leave you with just one thought, where are you going to put your focus?