I am sending this to my entire address book (and I never do that) b/c this
little story touched me - and I knew it would touch you too.

Blessings,
Amanda
> > > > THAT'S MY CHILD
> > > >
> > > > I was watching some little kids play soccer. These kids were
> > > > only five or six years old, but they were playing a real game a
> > > > serious game. Two teams, complete with coaches, uniforms, and
> parents.
> > > > I didn't know any of them, so I was able to enjoy the game without
the
> > > > distraction of being anxious about winning or losing. I wished the
> > > > parents
> > > > and coaches could have done the same.
> > > > The teams were pretty evenly matched. Nobody scored in the first
> period.
> > > > The kids were hilarious. They were clumsy and terribly inefficient.
> > >They
> > > > fell
> > > > over their own feet, they stumbled over the ball, they kicked at
the
> > > > ball and
> > > > missed it but they didn't seem to care. They were having fun.
> > > > In the second quarter, the Eagles coach pulled out what must have
> been
> > > > his
> > > > first team and put in the scrubs, except for his best player who
now
> > > > guarded
> > > > the goal. The game took a dramatic turn.
> > > > I guess winning is important even when you're five years old,
because
> > >the
> > > >
> > > > coach of the Cobras left his best players in and the Eagles' scrubs
> were
> > > > no
> > > > match for them. The Cobras swarmed around the little guy who was
now
> > >the
> > > > Eagles' goalie. He was an outstanding athlete, but he was no match
> for
> > > > three or four who were also very good. The Cobras began to score.
> > > > The One goalie gave it everything he had, recklessly throwing his
> body
> > > > in
> > > > front of incoming balls, trying valiantly to stop them. The Cobras
> > > > scored two
> > > > goals in quick succession. It infuriated the young boy. He became a
> > > > raging
> > > > maniac -shouting, running, diving. With all the stamina he could
> > >muster,
> > > > he covered the boy who now had the ball, but that boy kicked it to
> > > > another
> > > > boy twenty feet away and by the time he repositioned himself, it
was
> > >too
> > > > late
> > > > - they scored a third goal.
> > > > I soon learned who the goalie's parents were. They were nice,
> > > > neat-looking
> > > > people. I could tell that his dad had just come from the office -
he
> > > > still had
> > > > his suit and tie on. They yelled encouragement to their son. I
became
> > > > totally absorbed, watching the boy on the field and his parents on
> the
> > > > sidelines.
> > > > After the third goal, the little kid changed. He could see it was
no
> > > > use,
> > > > he couldn't stop them. He didn't quit, but he became quite
desperate,
> > > > futility
> > > > was written all over him. His father changed, too. He had been
> > > > urging his son to try harder, yelling advice and encouragement.
> > > > But then he changed. He became anxious. He tried to say that it was
> > >okay
> > > > -
> > > > to hang in there. He grieved for the pain his son was feeling.
After
> > >the
> > > > fourth
> > > > goal, I knew what was going to happen. I've seen it before. The
> little
> > > > boy
> > > > needed help so badly and there was no help to be had. He retrieved
> the
> > > > ball
> > > > from the net and handed it to the referee and then he cried. He
just
> > > > stood there
> > > > while huge tears rolled down both cheeks. He went to his knees and
> put
> > > > his
> > > > fists to his eyes - and he cried the tears of the helpless and
> > > > broken-hearted.
> > > > When the boy went to his knees, I saw the father start onto the
> field.
> > > > His wife clutched his arm and said, "Jim, don't. You'll embarrass
> him."
> > > > But he tore loose from her and ran onto the field. He wasn't
supposed
> > >to
> > > > -the game was still in progress. Suit, tie, dress shoes and all, he
> > > > charged
> > > > onto the field and he picked up his son so everybody would know
that
> > > > this
> > > > was his boy and he hugged him and held him and cried with him.
> > > > I've never been so proud of a man in my life. He carried him off
the
> > > > field, and
> > > > when he got close to the sidelines I heard him say, "Scotty, I'm so
> > >proud
> > > > of you. You were great out there. I want everybody to know that you
> are
> > > > my son."
> > > > "Daddy," the boy sobbed, "I couldn't stop them. I tried, Daddy, I
> tried
> > > > and
> > > > tried and they scored on me."
> > > > "Scotty, it doesn't matter how many times they scored on you.
You're
> > > > my son and I'm proud of you. I want you to go back out there and
> finish
> > > > the game. I know you want to quit, but you can't. And, son, you're
> > >going
> > > > to get scored on again, but it doesn't matter. Go on now."
> > > >
> > > > It made a difference - I could tell it did. When you're all alone
and
> > > > you're getting scored on - and you can't stop them, it means a lot
to
> > > > know
> > > > that it doesn't matter to those who love you. The little guy ran
back
> > >on
> > > > to
> > > > the field - and they scored two more times but it was okay.
> > > > I get scored on every day. I try so hard. I recklessly throw my
body
> in
> > > > every
> > > > direction. I fume and rage, I struggle with temptation and sin with
> > > > every ounce
> > > > of my being - and Satan laughs. And he scores again and the tears
> come
> > > > and
> > > > I go to my knees - sinful, convicted, helpless.
> > > > And my Father - my Father - rushes right out onto the field - right
> in
> > > > front
> > > > of the whole crowd - the whole jeering, laughing world and He picks
> me
> > > > up and He hugs me and He says, "Child, I'm so proud of you. You
were
> > > > great out there. I want everybody to know that you are my child and
> > > > because I control the outcome of this game, I declare you - The
> Winner."
> > > >
> > > > Be still and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10
> > > >
> > > > Remember this story when you start to get discouraged in the daily
> > > > struggles.
> > > > May God pull you into His lap today and encourage your heart.
> > > > "Give to the world the best you have, and the best will come back
to
> > > > you."
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> >
> > ______________________________________________________
> > Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
> >
>
>
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