There was a skinny young boy who loved football with all his heart.
Practice after practice, he eagerly gave everything he had. But being half
the size of the boys, he got absolutely nowhere. At all the games this
hopeful athlete sat on the bench and hardly ever played. This teenager
lived alone with his father, and the two of them had a very special
relationship. Even though the son was always on the bench, his father was
always in the stands cheering. He never missed a game.
This young man was still the smallest of the class when he entered high
school. His father continued to encourage him, but also made it very clear
that he did not have to play football if he didn't want to. But the young
man loved football and decided to hang in there. He was determined to try
his best at every practice, and perhaps he'd get to play when he became a
senior. All through high school he never missed a practice nor a game but
remained a bench-warmer all four years. His faithful father was always in
the stands, always with words of encouragement for him.
When the young man went to college, he decided to try out for the football
team as a "walk-in." Everyone was sure he could never make the cut, but he
did. The coach admitted that he kept him on the roster because he always
put his heart and soul into every practice, and at the same time, provided
the other members with the spirit and hustle they badly needed. The news
that he had survived the cut thrilled him so much that he rushed to the
nearest phone and called his father. His father shared his excitement and
was sent season tickets for all the college games.
This persistent young athlete never missed practice during his four years
at college, but he never got to play in a game. It was the end of his
senior football season, and as he trotted onto the practice field shortly
before the big playoff game, the coach met him with a telegram. The young
man read the telegram and he became deathly silent. Swallowing hard, he
mumbled to the coach, "My father died this morning. Is it all right if I
miss practice today?" The coach put his arm gently around his shoulder
and said, "Take the rest of the week off, son. And don't even plan to
come back to the game on Saturday."
Saturday arrived, and the game was not going well. In the third quarter,
when the team was ten points behind, a silent young man quietly slipped into
the empty locker room and put on his football gear. As he ran onto the
sidelines, the coach and his players were astounded to see their faithful
teammate back so soon. "Coach, please let me play. I've just got to play
today," said the young man. The coach pretended not to hear him. There
was no way he wanted his worst player in this close playoff game. But the
young man persisted, and finally feeling sorry for the kid, the coach gave
in. "All right," he said. "You can go in."
Before long, the coach, the players and everyone in the stands could not
believe their eyes. This little unknown, who had never played before was
doing everything right. The opposing team could not stop him. He ran, he
passed, blocked, and tackled like a star. His team began to triumph. The
score was soon tied. In the closing seconds of the game, this kid
intercepted a pass and ran all the way for the winning touchdown. The fans
broke loose. His teammates hoisted him onto their shoulders. Such
cheering you never heard.
Finally, after the stands emptied and he had showered and left the locker
room, the coach noticed that this young man was sitting quietly in the
corner all alone. The coach came to him and said, "Kid, I can't believe it.
You were fantastic! Tell me what got into you? How did you do it?" He
looked at the coach, with tears in his eyes, and said, "Well, you knew my
Dad died, but did you know that my Dad was blind?" The young man swallowed
hard and forced a smile, "Dad came to all my games, but today was the first
time he could see me play, and I wanted to show him I could do it!"
Like the athlete's father, GOD is always there cheering for us. He's always
reminding us to go on. He's even offering us His hand for He knows what is
best, and is willing to give us what we need and not simply what we want.
God has never missed a single game. What a joy to know that life is
meaningful if lived for the Highest. Live for Him for He's watching us in
the game of life.
Practice after practice, he eagerly gave everything he had. But being half
the size of the boys, he got absolutely nowhere. At all the games this
hopeful athlete sat on the bench and hardly ever played. This teenager
lived alone with his father, and the two of them had a very special
relationship. Even though the son was always on the bench, his father was
always in the stands cheering. He never missed a game.
This young man was still the smallest of the class when he entered high
school. His father continued to encourage him, but also made it very clear
that he did not have to play football if he didn't want to. But the young
man loved football and decided to hang in there. He was determined to try
his best at every practice, and perhaps he'd get to play when he became a
senior. All through high school he never missed a practice nor a game but
remained a bench-warmer all four years. His faithful father was always in
the stands, always with words of encouragement for him.
When the young man went to college, he decided to try out for the football
team as a "walk-in." Everyone was sure he could never make the cut, but he
did. The coach admitted that he kept him on the roster because he always
put his heart and soul into every practice, and at the same time, provided
the other members with the spirit and hustle they badly needed. The news
that he had survived the cut thrilled him so much that he rushed to the
nearest phone and called his father. His father shared his excitement and
was sent season tickets for all the college games.
This persistent young athlete never missed practice during his four years
at college, but he never got to play in a game. It was the end of his
senior football season, and as he trotted onto the practice field shortly
before the big playoff game, the coach met him with a telegram. The young
man read the telegram and he became deathly silent. Swallowing hard, he
mumbled to the coach, "My father died this morning. Is it all right if I
miss practice today?" The coach put his arm gently around his shoulder
and said, "Take the rest of the week off, son. And don't even plan to
come back to the game on Saturday."
Saturday arrived, and the game was not going well. In the third quarter,
when the team was ten points behind, a silent young man quietly slipped into
the empty locker room and put on his football gear. As he ran onto the
sidelines, the coach and his players were astounded to see their faithful
teammate back so soon. "Coach, please let me play. I've just got to play
today," said the young man. The coach pretended not to hear him. There
was no way he wanted his worst player in this close playoff game. But the
young man persisted, and finally feeling sorry for the kid, the coach gave
in. "All right," he said. "You can go in."
Before long, the coach, the players and everyone in the stands could not
believe their eyes. This little unknown, who had never played before was
doing everything right. The opposing team could not stop him. He ran, he
passed, blocked, and tackled like a star. His team began to triumph. The
score was soon tied. In the closing seconds of the game, this kid
intercepted a pass and ran all the way for the winning touchdown. The fans
broke loose. His teammates hoisted him onto their shoulders. Such
cheering you never heard.
Finally, after the stands emptied and he had showered and left the locker
room, the coach noticed that this young man was sitting quietly in the
corner all alone. The coach came to him and said, "Kid, I can't believe it.
You were fantastic! Tell me what got into you? How did you do it?" He
looked at the coach, with tears in his eyes, and said, "Well, you knew my
Dad died, but did you know that my Dad was blind?" The young man swallowed
hard and forced a smile, "Dad came to all my games, but today was the first
time he could see me play, and I wanted to show him I could do it!"
Like the athlete's father, GOD is always there cheering for us. He's always
reminding us to go on. He's even offering us His hand for He knows what is
best, and is willing to give us what we need and not simply what we want.
God has never missed a single game. What a joy to know that life is
meaningful if lived for the Highest. Live for Him for He's watching us in
the game of life.
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