The Scriptures are clear that we are to encourage one another
as teammates… yet I often find the coach in me spending more time correcting
than encouraging. It makes me stop and wonder if that was true of me on the
sidelines as a basketball coach… and as a father.
So in the spirit of thanksgiving I want to let each of
you know that I am very thankful for you. Even though I do not see everyone
that reads each week’s devotion I do appreciate each of you and hope that each
week brings something of value to your walk.
I thought instead of writing the typical devotion this
week I would instead let you read the journal entry of one of my friends in NC.
His son is one of my heroes! The kid is a great competitor! I’ve watched him battle
over the years in multiple sports and often against older players. (I loved
watching him go against the older guys when we had games at youth group.) And
now I get updates on his battle against cancer; one in which he is not only
showing the competitor that he is, but also using as a platform to give honor
and praise to our Savior!!!
This was posted on caring bridge by Don Bailey, father of
one of my favorite athletes Matt Bailey… (Be encouraged and be thankful!)
In February I watched Matt score 20 points in Troutman Middle
School’s final game of the season. Less than a month later he was
diagnosed with brain cancer. Shortly after the diagnoses, with tears in
my eyes, I packed up my Troutman T-shirt thinking I would never again be able
to wear it and cheer my son on in a game. Tonight, after seeing Matt
endure six months of radiation and nine months of chemo and again with tears in
my eyes, I put back on my Troutman t-shirt and proudly watched Matt take the
court and score two points in our first game of the season. Kobe or
LeBron could never have made two points look so good. Happy
Thanksgiving, Don
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