Basketball

My oldest just finished his first basketball season. Previously, he was a gymnast and diver. He is and always has been short and small. This was his first experience with basketball, and he was really excited. I have to admit that I was really nervous. Sports just aren't the same as when I was his age. I first played on a team through school in the seventh grade. Nobody was cut and they taught us the skills we would need to continue playing. It is ridiculous how intense the sports scene is at such a young age for these kids. Needless to say, I was scared for him; I knew the other kids would have skills, that the competition would be intense, and I have seen many a coach only interested in his own success.

Luck of the draw, he was placed on a team that had played together previously. They were a group of all stars. But, the experience was a miracle. I know God was watching out for us.

I was so impressed by these young men. They were kind and patient; they were always encouraging. The coach was not a parent. He volunteered his time and I never once heard him yell. The boys listened to him and did what he said. He had their trust. One of the boy's mother explained to me how the coach took them from being individual all stars to a team. They were unstoppable.

And this coach started my son the first game.

The last game of the season, they were significantly ahead at the half. The coach put my son in, then he pulled his star players and gave them instructions before subbing them in. They had one objective: feed my son the ball until he scored his first basket of the season. And that is what they did. They worked it, and continually passed and cheered on my son. Time after time, my son missed the basket. They continually passed it to him. I wasn't sure it was going to happen. Then, in the last minute of the game my son finally scored his first basket of the season! You would have thought he had just won his team the state championship. Those fine young men were overjoyed with his success. They cheered for him, lifted him up, carried him off the court, and called him their MVP!

I cannot begin to express my gratitude, first to God for placing him on such a fine team with such an amazing coach. There is good to be found in this world. There are good and wonderful people and youth. I pray that his coach and those boys will be blessed for their goodness. I pray that we can all treat others in such a generous and uplifting way remembering what is truly important.