The Football Player
|
 |
Bob Richards, the former
pole-vaulting 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 every game, this hopeful
athlete sat on the bench and had 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 the smallest of the class when he entered high school. His father
continued to encourage him, but also made it 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 was
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 his son.
When the young man went to college, he decided to to try out for the football team as a
"walk-on." Everyone was sure he would never make the cut, but he did. The coach
admitted that he kept him on the roster because he always put his heart and soul into
every practice, and at the same time, provided the other members with spirit and hustle
they badly needed.
The news that he 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 a single game.
It was the end of his senior football season, and as he trotted onto the practice field
before the big playoff game, the coach met him with a telegram. The young man read the
telegram and he became deathly silent. Swallowing hard, he mumbled to his coach, "My
father died this morning. Is it all right if I miss practice today?" The coach put
his arm gently around the 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 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 the young man. The coach pretended not to hear hear him.
There was no way he wanted his worst player to play 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 and players 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, he blocked, and he tackled like he was a star. His team began to
triumph. The score was 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
emptied, the team had showered and left the locker room, the coach noticed that this young
man was sitting quietly in the corner all alone. The coach came up 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 that 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 this 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 the best, and is willing to
give us what we need and not simply what we want. God has never missed a single game. What
joy to know that life is meaningful is lived for the Highest. Live for Him, for He's
watching us in the game of life!
|