Last week’s devotion keyed on playing to win… not just to
survive. I also said I would expand on that thought a little bit… and as I prepared
to type tonight, a Facebook memory popped up reminding me that exactly 1 year
ago I was being rushed to a hospital and things didn’t look good. But here we
are a year later, and I get told often about what a miracle it is! Obviously, I
am incredibly thankful to be a survivor! I am overwhelmed to even look back and
read all the prayer requests went out for me and the family! I will celebrate
the past, but I refuse to live in it… I won’t play to survive, but instead,
survive to play… I love “the game”!
I was just having a talk today with my daughter Faith
about her middle school basketball team. Last week we had a couple of bad
practices; one was so bad that I told a bunch of middle school girls that it
they didn’t want to play they shouldn’t be there. There was no joy in the gym…
no excitement to get to play the game. Then we had a game Friday afternoon and
things changed. The girls openly expressed how much fun they were having… how
they liked the new game plan I put in… and it showed on the floor. Then
Saturday came and we had another game… only to find ourselves with many of the
girls looking, and playing, like they couldn’t wait for the game to be over.
So, what was the difference? (Faith and I discussed this
very question.) This is a middle school… it is not made up of players that love
the game… they like it… they enjoy it (at times)… they don’t love it. There was
one glaring difference on Friday, we were much better than our opponent and
finding a lot of success on the court; Saturday, not so much so. It’s not that
Saturday’s opponent was glaringly better, but they were very aggressive and
took us out of our game. And when adversity hit during the game, our like for
the game disappeared… there was no joy on the court. (I do have to say this was
not true of all our girls. We have a few that love to get after it and play the
game!)
I told my daughter that I have never laced up my
basketball shoes without playing hard and intending to win… and shared the Vince
Lombardi idea that I never lost, I just ran out of time.
If you want to see if someone really loves the game,
watch him when adversity hits! Does he crumble, or does he keep playing hard?
When he gets a lead, does he play it safe, or does he keep playing?
Lace up your shoes with a purpose!
If you faint in
the day of adversity, your strength is small. Proverbs 24:10
My brethren, count
it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing the testing of your faith
produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be
perfect and complete, lacking nothing. James 1:2-4
This is the day
the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24
Walk in wisdom
toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. Let your speech always be
with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each
one. Colossians 4:5-6
I still love to step out on a basketball court… I love to
step out into the court of life… I love that God has given me more days… days
to live… days to make a difference!
You will show me
the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at your right hand are
pleasures forevermore. Psalm 16:11
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