I am not even going to give much of an intro to this blog other than to say that I received this in a letter from my daughter Ashley today:
This week I realized how playing sports has prepared me incredibly well for life!!! There are so many different analogies and tie-ins… But here are just a few that I was pondering:
– Be coachable: Be humble enough to accept constructive criticism from leaders. Don’t be offended, be open. Always have the attitude of “what lack I yet?” Being willing to submit ultimately to the Lords will and do what He wants and knows is best, even when we do not fully understand why. If Michael Jordan says to adjust your shot and keep your elbow in… Then heck… Keep your elbow in!! Don’t question the man! Trust the coach!
– Pump up the team: bring energy and high spirits into the field at all times so that all the people you come in contact with are refilled with the light of Christ and the desire to fulfill their purpose! Lift, encourage, inspire, and bless!
– Apply the game film: don’t just take notes during meetings… But actually go out and APPLY what you learn. Make the necessary corrections and CHANGE what you need to in order to be effective.
– Practice how you play: Role play! Even though sometimes it’s the worst, you need to take it seriously! We will receive inspiration on what others need if we put ourselves in their shoes and BECOME them!
– Teamwork: you have to learn how to work with others in unity in order to fulfill the goal! We have to be willing to give and take a little. Forgive others for their weaknesses and move on! Pray for them and their hardships. Help them up when they fall. Without each other’s support, we are nothing! There is no “i” in “team”…
– Set goals and have a vision: what are you going to accomplish in this game? Two touchdowns? A grand slam? Five assists? Hole in one? The game winning shot?! Then BE SPECIFIC about HOW you are going to reach your goals! Or nothing will change and actually happen! If you want five assists that means you have to make passes! Well.. then this week you should probably work on your passes, right!? When we adjust our focuses we will have success in all our doings!
– Mental game: “whether you think you can or you can’t.. You’re right.” -(some important sports guy that I forgot.) “The future is as bright as your faith” – Neil L Andersen. If you go into a game expecting to have already lost… then heaven knows you will lose! Same goes for people. If you don’t think they will ever change… they probably won’t! If you have high hopes and expectations for yourself and others, and you pray and work your guts out to make things happen, then they will live up to those expectations! Mind over matter!
– Muscle Memory: For us to perfect a “play” or the “perfect shot”, it takes repetition and study! We have to be diligent in our studies and through repetition will understand more clearly how to be able to teach others in a simple way.
– On the clock: we only have limited time to give it our absolute all. Don’t waste time, don’t walk when you’re on the court, don’t give up. How many hours is our “fishing line” actually in the water? Are we just filling our time with busy work to make us feel productive? Or are we using our time effectively? We only have this short amount of time to serve and the rest of our lives to look back. We should have the urgency as if every second were 4th quarter senior year state game with 20 seconds on the clock! Make every second count!
– Don’t be a sore loser: when things don’t go the way we wanted trust that God has a better plan in mind! And when we get doors slammed in our faces say, “sweet is the work!” And keep moving forward! That means you’re one door closer to the miracle! Be full of faith!
– Wear safety gear: just like how you’d never walk onto the football field without your helmet, never leave the house without your armor or God! Scriptures, studies, and prayer are our “breastplate of righteousness”, “shield of faith”, “helmet of salvation”, and “sword of the spirit”. Without them, we make ourselves subject to fatal injuries by the devil and his “wiles”. (Ephesians 6:11-17)
– Study the opponent: aka Satan. Know how he works and operates so we can avoid temptations and snares when they come! He knows what makes us fall, so study out how to avoid and resist him!
– Stay in bounds: Keep the rules! Be exactly obedient and play the game how it’s meant to be played! Don’t step out of bounds so the clock and game stop… Stay within the lines so that you can accomplish the goal and score!
– Be respectful on and off the court: what you do on and off the court reflects not only you, but your school and your team. Everything we do reflects not only us, but our family and our faith. “When you stand alone… Who will you be?” – Lawrence E. Corbridge. “Be true in the dark and humble in the spotlight” – Sister Wakolo (our mission mom). Don’t put on a face and act a certain way just around leaders…but even in our own time from day to day.
– Win the prize: at the end of the game when we did our absolute best and gave our all, we get to experience one of the sweetest joys and rewards! How’s THAT for a prize? 😉
All in all I am so grateful for the lessons I was able to learn growing up playing sports. I had no idea it would prepare me as well as it would for my future. BALL IS LIFE!! 😉 ~Ashley
Yep…pretty awesome….
~Amy
