Father God

I just got this forward from a friend of mine. It is amazing! You might need a Tissue or a sleeve, my eyes were watering alot. Just so you all know, real men do cry. I'm not gonna say anymore about it, so just read it.

The Winner

I was watching some little kids play soccer. These kids were only five or six years old, but they were playing a real game - a serious game - two teams, complete with coaches, uniforms, and parents. I didn't know any of them, so I was able to enjoy the game without the distraction of being anxious about winning or losing. I wished the parents and coaches could have done the same. The teams were pretty evenly matched. I will just call them Team One and Team Two. Nobody scored in the first period. The kids were hilarious. They were clumsy and terribly inefficient. They fell over their own feet, they stumbled over the ball, they kicked at the ball and missed it but they didn't seem to care. They were having fun.

In the second quarter, the Team One coach pulled out what must have been his first team and put in the scrubs, except for his best player who now guarded the goal.

The game took a dramatic turn. I guess winning is important even when you're five years old because the Team Two coach left his best players in, and the Team One scrubs were no match for them. Team Two swarmed around the little guy who was now the Team One goalie. He was an outstanding athlete, but he was no match for three or four who were also very good. Team Two began to score. The lone goalie gave it everything he had, recklessly throwing his body in front of incoming balls, trying valiantly to stop them.

Team Two scored two goals in quick succession. It infuriated the young boy. He became a raging maniac - shouting, running, diving. With all the stamina he could muster, he covered the boy who now had the ball, but that boy kicked it to another boy twenty feet away, and by the time he repositioned himself, it was too late - they scored a third goal.

I soon learned who the goalie's parents were. They were nice, decent-looking people. I could tell that his dad had just come from the office; he still had his suit and tie on. They yelled encouragement to their son. I became totally absorbed, watching the boy on the field and his parents on the sidelines. After the third goal, the little kid changed. He could see it was no use; he couldn't stop them.

He didn't quit, but he became quiet. Desperate futility was written all over him. His father changed too. He had been urging his son to try harder - yelling advice and encouragement. But then he changed. He became anxious. He tried to say that it was okay - to hang in there. He grieved for the pain his son was feeling.

After the fourth goal, I knew what was going to happen. I've seen it before. The little boy needed help so badly, and there was no help to be had. He retrieved the ball from the net and handed it to the referee - and then he cried. He just stood there while huge tears rolled down both cheeks. He went to his knees and put his fists to his eyes - and he cried the tears of the helpless and brokenhearted.

When the boy went to his knees, I saw the father start onto the field. His wife clutched his arm and said, "Jim, don't. You'll embarrass him." But he tore loose from her and ran onto the field. He wasn't supposed to; the game was still in progress. Suit, tie, dress shoes, and all, he charged onto the field, and he picked up his son so everybody would know that this was his boy, and he hugged him and held him and cried with him. I've never been so proud of a man in my life.

He carried him off the field, and when he got close to the sidelines I heard him say, "Scotty, I'm so proud of you. You were great out there. I want everybody to know that you are my son." "Daddy," the boy sobbed, "I couldn't stop them. I tried, Daddy, I tried and tried, and they scored on me."

"Scotty, it doesn't matter how many times they scored on you. You're my son, and I'm proud of you. I want you to go back out there and finish the game. I know you want to quit, but you can't. And, son, you're going to get scored on again, but it doesn't matter. Go on, now." It made a difference. I could tell it did.

When you're all alone, and you're getting scored on - and you can't stop them - it means a lot to know that it doesn't matter to those who love you. The little guy ran back on to the field, and they scored two more times. But it was okay.

I get scored on every day. I try so hard. I recklessly throw my body in every direction. I fume and rage. I struggle with temptation and sin with every ounce of my being. And Satan laughs. And he scores again, and the tears come, and I go to my knees - sinful, convicted, helpless.

And my Father rushes right out on the field right in front of the whole crowd - the whole jeering, laughing world - and he picks me up, and he hugs me and he says, "I'm so proud of you. You were great out there. I want everybody to know that you are my son, and because I control the outcome of this game, I declare you The Winner."

-Author Unknown

I'm Back Now

Just got back late Tuesday night from the not-as-warm-as-it-shoulda-been Bahamas. Ya I know, there was no snow falling, but stink it was chilly some days. We were in Florida for 4 days at Disney before going to Bahamas and that was even colder. I was wearing jeans and my fleece jacket most of the time. We did get some real nice days in the Islands though, and I did get a decent tan, so I'll stop complaining. Wait, one more thing. I found out that I missed the biggest snow storm ever! I love snow storms!!! dang it!

So I'm sure that you are all wondering how my family got to go on this massive vacation. Well, we have relatives in the Bahamas. Now your all not as jealous cause your thinking of what it would be like to spend three weeks with relatives with out anyone being killed. HA! Fortunately these relatives are real fun to be with. Even the little kids that we were sort of looking after were fun. After the first two weeks I decided not to through them into the ocean because after all, they are only 3 and 5 and can't be expected to be little angles all the time, or even some of the time. And I still want to have kids of my own some day. I did question that idea, but by the end of the trip I was still sure that I did.

I tell more details of the trip in later blogs, but I would like to share an insight I had whilst away. We did celebrate Christmas down there, but it was just weird having sand instead of snow, palm trees instead if pine trees, fruity rum drinks instead of Canadian beer, Fish instead of Turkey, swimming instead of toboganing, shorts instead of scarves and touqes, ice in my drink instead of hot apple cider from Timmy's, building sand castles instead of snow forts, etc. You can do all these things in the "summer" time in Canada. I was feeling like I was really missing something. Most of all, there was and is nothing that can replace the holiday good times with friends. I know that Christmas seems like a lot of fuss and hassle at times, but it is so worth all the work, all the gatherings, and all the sitting around eating to much. So I've decided that I will spend the Christmas Holidays close to home from now on.

Happy New Year Everyone!!!!!!!!!!!