Of Basketball and Perseverence

Caleb is small.  He stands a full head and shoulders shorter than most of his peers.  He's 8 years old and still barely tips the scales at 45 pounds.  He's playing basketball again this year.  But, this year, they raised the baskets.  Last year, they were lowered for his age group..but now he's in the next age group and the hoop looms so far above his head.  Try as he might, he can't make a basket.  His team mates shoot lay- up after lay-up and they fall through the net with that satisfying "swoosh".  Caleb can't get it anywhere near the basket.  His past coaches have always been really sensitive to Caleb, his size and personality.  This year, it's more competitive and the coaches are more focused and more competitive as well.  When it's Caleb's turn to play, his team mates don't throw him the ball, and the coaches give each other the "look" when Caleb is on the floor.  You know the one.  The one that says.."I wish he was on the bench".  Caleb has returned from every practice and every game in tears.  He knows that his team mates ignore him and he can sense his coaches opinion of him.  He tries, but ends up in tears.

As a Mom, this is hard to watch.  I've had to swallow that lump in my throat when I see it happening and cheer loudly from the sidelines.  I have struggled with the temptation to pull him off the team.  Yet, leaving the team is not the answer.  Helping Caleb learn resiliency and determination are the key to getting through this season.  Pointing his tender heart towards Jesus, and letting Him know that He is loved and believed in, not just by his Mom and Dad, but by his heavenly Father. Helping him know that his acceptance is not based on his performance, is going to be key. 


So often in life, when it gets hard, we want to quit.  When we feel like we are in an impossible situation, we want to walk away.  But that is not the answer.  If quitting when treated unfairly was the answer, Jesus would  never have made it to the cross.  Our loving heavenly Father, sometimes allows us to be in difficult situations.  He does that not because he likes seeing us struggle, but because He knows those struggles will shape our character and if we let them will draw us to Him.  So, instead of quitting, we get back on the court, we do our best.  We look to Jesus for our sense of identity and we keep going.