Spent the morning with my Panther Family. Players, Family, and Friends. As they went through the food line, each person (well over 200) was asked to write something they were thankful for.
A couple of the players were asked to speak what they were thankful for. Of course we are all blessed with so much. We live in a community where so many find strength in prayer. As the team presented a letter jacket to a young man who recently lost his father to Cancer, after this child just shared with the group how grateful he was for his "Panther Family"....I held back tears as I thought to myself and even muttered aloud...."that's what it's all about...right there."
This is more than football. If anyone doubts that....come sit by me. I'll be happy to tell you the ways.
Boys remember this...
A Christian competitor is a thankful competitor. Every time you step onto the field of competition, your heart is exploding with thankfulness, because you are abundantly grateful for God's blessings. You have a deep conviction that your gifts, talents and skills to play and to compete come from Him alone. You never take it for granted. Every stride, play, punt, pass, goal and point is a response to God's goodness. The way you compete is marked with a "Thank you God," because you count all of God's blessings in your life. You always show gratitude.
You have been given much by the Lord, and you play with that mindset. You are simply grateful for the opportunity to compete. Your sweat is an offering of thanks to Him. There is no room for pride in a heart full of thankfulness. A thankful competitor is a humble competitor.
You don't try to impress others when you are thankful that God is making an impact through you. You don't care if you are starting when you are overwhelmed with gratitude at simply having a spot on the team. You don't put unrealistic expectations on your teammates' shoulders when you realize God's grace on your life. You don't care about the scoreboard when your definition of winning is becoming more like Jesus every time you compete.
You don't look at your opponent as your enemy when you are thankful that Jesus loved His enemies. You don't view competition as crushing your opponent when your view of competition is to play in such a way that you elevate all participants' involvement to a higher level of competition. You are not consumed with what others think of your play, when you are overcome that God is your Audience of One.
You don't demand attention when your attention is on others. You don't hide your weaknesses when you know that when you are weak, God is strong. You don't criticize teammates when you believe the best about them. You don't look at teammates as less than perfect when you are thankful that God has wonderfully made them. You don't have to be #1 when you are already grateful for whatever place you receive. You don't have to play for others when you already feel God's pleasure when you compete.
You don't seek glory and recognition when your goal is to glorify the One who made you. You don't have to worry about making the team when you know God has selected you as His first pick. You don't have to impress your coach when you are competing with all your heart as for the Lord. You don't have to worry about your uniform when you are already wearing the jersey of Jesus Christ.
This Thanksgiving, be a thankful competitor! With a grateful heart, much can be accomplished. Let the power of thanksgiving change the way you compete. A Christian competitor is a thankful competitor.
I'm praying for many things as these boys take the field tomorrow. Protection, safety, and love. For the game. For each other. For Him.
By the way, what did I write on my card? Grace. I'm thankful for grace. When we all receive what we don't always deserve. For where would we be without it?
Happy Thanksgiving to you.
To my Panther Family....as a Senior mom....no matter what happens tomorrow.... within the next few days, it's all over for my Sam. I'm thankful for the memories and lasting friendships. I will never forget this season. God bless each of you.
In Him,
Terri
No comments:
Post a Comment