Our oldest daughter, Kinsey, has just completed her senior softball season. Their goal was to win the state championship and last night they just fell short. A car ride home after a loss seems much longer than the ride after a victory, but if we live on this earth we’re going to experience both highs and lows. At the beginning of the season, our coach asked Susan and me to share periodic prayer requests to help parents, coaches, and players pray for one another and keep focus on our Creator. After quite an emotional weekend in Columbus that put us in the finals of the state tournament, I wrote the following note and prayer. Last night we won the first game by one run then lost the championship game by one run. “Lord, help us keep in mind what is most important.” Have a great week,
Dana
I woke up early this morning with a thankful heart for our softball coaches. I’ve been on the tough end of losses many times as a coach, and trying to find the right words and right ways to encourage can be so difficult. Our coaches lifted spirits, brought perspective, and shared hope. We are all so thankful for a happy ride home Saturday night. One of our coaches made an unusual comment as everyone was preparing to leave the park: “As much as I like beating Buford, I hate eliminating them from the tournament.” Coaches with hearts that reach beyond the game are rare indeed. It may be easy to pray with an opposing team after winning a game, but it is not too easy after a heart-breaking loss. But as our coaches walk out with chin up, our girls also wipe away tears and hold the hand of an opponent and humbly pray to a Father in Heaven who loves everyone on the field. Such sights bring tears to us fathers on earth.
Our daughter has prayed a lot lately about winning games, but she’s also prayed for a Buford player who has lost her family. She wrote her a note saying that she’s never lost a parent, but when her dad was diagnosed with cancer she was forced to deal with things tougher than losing a softball game. As our seventeen-year-old prays that her team achieves its high goals, I want her to remember there are seventeen-year-olds on the other team praying similar prayers. As a forty-seven-year-old, while I may also catch myself praying for victories, I hope I can pray for even greater things.
“Lord, if my daughter makes an error, help her get through it. May her self-worth not be wrapped up in her performance. Lord, if another player makes a mistake, may I have the same empathy as if it were my own daughter. Lord, even in the agony of defeat, we know you can still bring good. May we all trust you in the good times and the bad. Please grant imperfect coaches and imperfect parents your wisdom. Most of all, Lord, may we possess a great measure of your incredible love that looks far beyond exterior happenings to the very center of all that really matters. Bring maturity in all of us. Let us be full of mercy and grace as you are. Mold us into the image of Your Son and let us trust you know best how to bring about such a miracle. We do pray our girls play their best and enjoy a special opportunity this week. We continue to pray for safety in travels and in play. We also pray for all the other girls still playing and all who are dealing with the emotions that surround the end of the season. We give thanks for our children, for our coaches, and for one another. We thank you for sacrifices so many have made this season. We thank you for planting a desire within our team to please you above all. With this desire, we pray as your Son did in the Garden… may your will be done in our lives. In Jesus’ Name, Amen”
“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:9-10