One of the greatest things I get to do as a dad is coach my daughter’s softball and soccer teams. It is, however, also one of the hardest things I have ever done.
I show up to practice with a plan. It has stations and drills. The team is divided and each minute is marked out on my yellow note pad. At times I wonder why I write anything down – because it quickly gets thrown out the window.
For example, here is an exchange from softball practice just the other day…
Me – “Girls now that everyone is warmed-up go line-up at home plate.”
Girls – (organized chaos as they run to be first in line)
Me – “Which one you three groups are lined up at home plate? Wrong – none of you! Home plate is the base that is not square?”
Random Girl – “What’s a square”
Me – “It is a box that has four equal sides”
Another Random Girl – “Doesn’t a box also have a top and a bottom?”
Me – “Correct – but this is a flat box that lies directly on the ground.”
Girls – (More organized chaos as the finally find home plate…)
A Different Random Girl – “Coach Barry?”
Me – “Yes”
Same Random Girl – “There’s a rainbow….How many colors are in a rainbow?”
Me – “Ok, who wants to play tag?”
Don’t get me wrong. I absolutely love coaching them! I love laughing and playing and playing games with them. It is a joy when someone is finally able to throw across the infield or hits the ball for the first time. It is a joy to watch as they race each other, throw their gloves in the air, mess around in line, braid each others hair, and it is even a joy to watch them sit and pick dandelions in the outfield! (OK if the truth be told – not so much on the dandelion part…)
At every practice I have to go in reminding myself that today they will be watching and they will be listening. These girls are 8 years old and younger and I am at least 33 years older than they are. I have lived an eternity and experienced the world compared to what they have experienced.
Their minds, attitudes, and lives are just being shaped. And the shaping is being done by people like me – their coach – and by people like you – the parents, friends, and strangers.
Our practices end with me having them gather around for a huddle. Every single time they run up, bump into me, and stand as close as they can get. There they are….looking up with big blue, brown, hazel, and green eyes and great big smiles (many toothless – which kinda makes them look like a hockey team…) About that time their faith, their joy, and their eagerness makes me forget that they didn’t necessarily learn to be an all-star that day, but that they learned to live – have fun – slow down – and laugh…
Kinda makes me wonder who coached who…
Take a moment and go read Mark 10:14 and then think about the last time a child taught YOU something!
Until Next Time…
Pastor Barry
Pastor Barry's Blog 