This has been a busy weekend...2 practices, 4 basketball games and 4 baseball games. Add no daddy to that mix and I am seriously looking into the cloning process. Or maybe I should just order a body double. I wonder if I can order that in about a 5'7" model? I think I might be on to something here. ;)
As I was watching all of these many many games it occurred to me what a position of power adults hold over kids. As parents, teachers, church leaders, coaches or any other position working in or around kids, we hold a power. It is the power to encourage or discourage. To build up or tear down. With a kind word we can give a child the world; an encouragement we can give them the love of a game. Using that power to grow their knowledge, whether it be in the classroom, on the field or in our Sunday school room is the greatest way to give back to the world. Giving a child the chance to learn and grow could mean the next President of the United States, the next Derek Jeter or Michael Jordan, even the next Billy Graham. Wouldn't you love to be one of the stones in the long line of stepping stones in a child's life to success? Wouldn't you treasure the knowledge that you had given a little one the opportunity to try something new or to further their knowledge or skill in something? That power is pretty awesome and can be used to the enlightenment or the detriment of a child. As with all great power this too comes with great responsibility. All of us that hold this type of power over a child should tread carefully. No matter the circumstance, whether they have missed a shot, dropped a ball, not done their homework or left their cleats laying in the middle of the kitchen floor so you can trip over them (just sayin ;) all children need to be treated with respect. Don't get me wrong, I'm all about the discipline. I have spent a good portion of the last 14 years with a wooden paddle in my back pocket. ;) You can teach and mold with discipline and respect. It is possible to get your point across without belittling or cutting them to the quick. It takes an amazing amount of patience, humility and grace, three qualities which I am going to grow in myself so that I will always be ready to use any power I might yield in a most positive way.
There was a time this weekend when I saw the perfect use of this power in action. The middle one is playing on a baseball team this year for a man who has the perfect amount of patience, humility and grace all rolled up in the most positive package. He instructs with positive comments in such a way that the boys leave every practice and game thinking they are world champions. They are learning to love the game of baseball and are gaining confidence in themselves that they can succeed, even though they rarely win a game. On Saturday night about 9:00, which was 12 hours after they began their baseball day, our little team was down 9 to 0. Ouch. The middle was playing catcher, his favorite, and he got a little "punch drunk" (I believe that is the term). He started dancing around back there, flopping his body on the ground, jumping around, chasing runners all the way back to third and then prancing back to home plate. He was still making good plays and had his head in the game, but his body was checking out. Picture Kramer from Seinfeld in an 11 year old body playing catcher. :)) At one point his coach threw some advice out and the middle stops dead in his tracks takes one giant hop to the right looks at his coach and gave him the old "just smile and wave boys...smile and wave". I mean, for real, he had the biggest cheesiest grin on his face you have ever seen and waved at him like he was seeing his long lost buddy for the first time in 50 years. :)) The whole place was cracked up laughing. After the game, instead of being annoyed with his silliness or dragging him down for making a 9 run deficit fun, this great coach just smiled and said, "Middle, thanks for keeping me entertained." And, that is how it should be done, folks. :) I had to tell my middle funny man a great big thank you because this sports watching mama needed that ab workout after all the fast food I have eaten this weekend! ;)
The wine of the day is Little Penguin chardonnay. To all the coaches, parents, teachers, leaders and all the great kids out there..."just smile and wave boys...smile and wave." Life should be about fun and learning and laughing....to all those that aren't aboard that ship....we will just smile and wave. ;)
Happy Sunday!
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