The Half Court Shot...

My sweet son is finishing up his second season of Basketball. He is not the greatest player on the court, but he loves the game!  We have faithfully attended each game, cheering, taking pictures and being his biggest fans.

This year was so much better than last year.  He was so excited to play last season, until he reached the court. He would freeze and cling on to my leg. I would bribe, beg and walk him onto the court and he would hang onto my leg and big crocodile tears would drip down his sweet face. I often wondered if it was even worth it, but we persisted.

I was absolutely shocked that he asked to play again this season, but he was so excited to be on the court. He has not made a single basket, but I am just happy knowing that he has enjoyed being on the court and playing his heart out.

I am not sure how many times you have witnessed 5 and 6 year olds playing basketball, but it can be quite humorous! You often see baskets being scored in the wrong goal, referees who call time outs to tie untied shoe strings and players forgetting to dribble as they run to their goal. Thankfully both teams cheer for each other, we are sympathetic when a ball hits a head or a nose and the player sheds some tears and we are quick to whisper encouragement to the other team when they miss a shot.

My son may have learned many lessons during this season, but I am convinced that I, as a parent may have learned the biggest lesson of all. This past week in particular, I witnessed several players that were so eager to put the basketball into the hoop that they would try with all of their 6 year old strength to throw the basketball into the goal from the half court and 3 point mark. Naturally, those shots can even be difficult for professional players, nearly impossible for a 5 or 6 year old. But one day as they mature and with enough practice, they will also succeed in such a difficult shot.  I love seeing the determination in their eyes as they lunge back and throw it with all of their might, but my heart is sympathetic as the ball quickly falls to the ground or into the hands of another player. For the young player to succeed in scoring the goal from such a long distance is to pass the ball to a player who is open and closer to the basket.

So many times in life we wish to succeed in our goals, but sometimes the way to succeed is to pass our goal in life onto someone else who can "put it in the basket."  We still can celebrate the joy of watching our teammate succeed because if we did not pass the ball over, the success would have never came. What a joy it is to pass over the goal to someone else, having total confidence that they will have the success and the joy of completion. And with enough dedication and coaching from the ultimate coach, our Heavenly Father we will also succeed at the right time.



 Refuse good advice and watch your plans fail;
take good counsel and watch them succeed.
Proverbs 15:22