On a Saturday evening, the Mini-Midget football players took the field to compete for the Super Bowl Championship. I positioned myself where my daddy had sat for many years watching his grandchildren play. I was overjoyed to be at the event and excited to watch my grandkids play for both the Mini-Midget and Pee-Wee Championships.
As the group of kids came together, we the fans began to cheer as the kids competed for the biggest game of the season. Then it happened . . . the play that taught remarkable lessons we would remember and cherish immensely forever.
The opposing team was in the end-zone about to score, while the Mini-Midget team was positioned and ready to stop the play. Swiftly, a player threw the ball. The hands of my grandson intercepted the ball, running the length of the field to score a touchdown. At that moment, you could hear this Nana screaming for miles away! Along with the other enthusiastic fans, we watched an entire team mutually work to make this moment possible. We were so proud! However, when I watched the video of the play, my heart was most inspired by what took place on a 100-yard football field and the lessons taught by the Mini-Midget football team.
Lessons Taught:
- The Team Arose to the Occasion: The team had positioned themselves to stop the opposing squad from scoring. Then, in a matter of seconds, an interception occurred. The entire team rose to the occasion, moving toward their own goal line blocking their opponents along the way. Wow were they blocking!
Lesson Taught: Times will occur in life when God redirects our journeys. We are positioned in a particular place or in a particular setting, and instantly God redirects us, or perhaps an opportunity we never saw coming presents itself, and we are called to rise to the occasion.
In Joshua chapter one, God called Joshua to arise to the occasion and lead the children of Israel on into the Promised Land. “Now therefore arise, cross this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them, to the sons of Israel” (Joshua 1:2b).
- Stay the Course: My grandson continued to move forward, keeping his eye on what was ahead—never looking back and never stopping.
Lesson Taught: So often in life, if we are not careful, we can quickly get off-course. This happens when we lose our focus or constantly gaze over our shoulders at our past, with clouds of regrets lingering over us.
In Philippians 3:13-14, Paul teaches the importance of reaching forward to what lies ahead. “Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
- Supporting others! My heart was so touched to see the teammate running all the way down the field side-by-side with the youngster heading toward the end zone. I was later told by the teammate’s mom that he was cheering my grandson on by yelling, “Go! Go! Go!” Such a special moment! However, this was not all that took place. As you look back at the video, you will see the entire team—even those on the sidelines (and the runner’s mom)—running down the field cheering and blocking with great excitement.
Lesson Taught: This was such a picture of what God calls Christians to do. We are called to do life with one another, to encourage and pray for one another.
Hebrews 10:24-25 states, “And let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.”
For those of you reading this today who may be struggling to “arise to the occasion,” please remember God is not asking you to rise up on your own. He is with you and will give you the grace and strength needed to do that for which the occasion calls. For those who are struggling to keep on keeping on or who may be discouraged, remember, God is encouraging you to keep your focus, to stay your course, while running side-by-side, cheering you on to: Go! Go! Go!
On November 2, in a nation where many today are struggling with anger toward one another, discouragement, and hopelessness, a special group of boys took their place on a 100-yard football field, teaching by example what it looks like when people work together, stand by each other, run side-by-side, cheering for one another, having each other’s backs, while rising to the occasion and staying the course all the way to the end. Thank you boys!
