THE FATHER'S EYES
Bob Richards, the former pole-vault champion,
shares a moving story about a skinny young boy
who loved football with all his heart.
Practice after practice, he eagerly gave
everything he had.
But being half the size of the other boys,
he got absolutely nowhere.
At all the games this hopeful athlete sat on
the bench
and hardly ever played.
This teenager lived alone with his father,
and the two of them had a very special
relationship.
Even though the son was always on the bench,
his father was always in the stands cheering.
He never missed a game.
This young man was still the smallest of the
class
when he entered high school.
His father continued to encourage him
but also made it very clear that he did not
have to play football if he didn't want to.
But the young man loved football
and decided to hang in there.
He was determined to try his best at every
practice
and perhaps he'd get to play when he became a
senior.
All through high school he never missed a
practice
nor a game, but remained a bench warmer all
four years.
His faithful father was always in the stands,
always with words of encouragement for him.
When the young man went to college, he decided
to try out
for the football team as a "walk-on".
Everyone was sure he could never make the cut,
but he did.
The coach admitted that he kept him on the
roster
because he always puts his heart and soul in
every practice
and at the same time, provided the other
members
with the spirit and hustle they badly needed.
The news that he had survived the cut thrilled
him so much
that he rushed to the nearest phone and called
his father.
His father shared his excitement
and was sent season tickets for all the
college games.
This persistent young athlete never missed
practice
during his four years at college,
but he never got to play in the game.
It was the end of his senior football season,
and as he trotted onto the practice field
shortly before the big play off game,
the coach met him with a telegram.
The young man read the telegram
and he became deathly silent.
Swallowing hard, he mumbled to the coach,
"My father died this morning.
Is it all right if I miss practice today?"
The coach put his arm gently around his
shoulder and said,
"Take the rest of the week off, son.
And don't even plan to come back to the game
on Saturday."
Saturday arrived, and the game was not going
well.
In the third quarter, when the team was ten
points behind,
a silent young man quietly slipped into the
empty locker room
and put on his football gear.
As he ran onto the sidelines, the coach and
his players
were astounded to see their faithful teammate
back so soon.
"Coach, please let me play. I've just got
to play today."
said the young man.
The coach pretended not to hear him.
There was no way he wanted his worst player
in this close playoff game.
But the young man persisted, and finally,
feeling sorry for the kid, the coach gave in.
"All right," he said. "You can
go in."
Before long, the coach, the players
and everyone in the stands could not believe
their eyes.
This little unknown, who had never played
before,
was doing everything right.
The opposing team could not stop him.
He ran, he passed, blocked and tackled like a
star.
His team began to triumph.
The score was soon tied.
In the closing seconds of the game,
this kid intercepted a pass
and ran all the way for the winning touchdown.
The fans broke loose.
His teammates hoisted him onto their shoulders.
Such cheering you never heard!
Finally, after the stands had emptied and the
team had
showered and left the locker room,
the coach noticed that the young man was
sitting quietly
in the corner all alone.
The coach came to him and said,
"Kid, I can't believe it. You were
fantastic!
Tell me what got into you?
How did you do it?"
He looked at the coach, with tears in his
eyes, and said,
"Well, you knew my dad died,
but did you know that my dad was blind?"
The young man swallowed hard and forced a
smile,
"Dad came to all my games, but today was
the first time
he could see me play, and I wanted to show him
I could do it!"
Like the athlete's father,
God is always there cheering for us.
He's always reminding us to go on.
He's even offering us His hand for He knows
what is best
and is willing to give us what we need
and not simply what we want.
God has never missed a single game.
What a joy to know that life is meaningful
if lived for the Highest.
Live for HIM, for He's watching us in the game
of life.
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Last updated 10/26/00 20:30