My son Gus had his second flag football game yesterday. The first game was pretty much a joke. Our coach actually resigned after it. A few dads stepped up to take his place and assured us that things would be different. They weren’t. They stuck to the same game plan. They said they were going to make sure every child had a chance to touch the ball at least once a game… which is how it is supposed to work when you are 4 years old and play for the YMCA. It’s not about learning a position, it’s about having fun and part of having fun for a 4 year old is getting a chance to get the ball and run with it, right? But that’s not how it went down.
I sat there for an hour and watched Gus give it all he had until he had no more to give. He ran up and down the field and did exactly what he was supposed to and had a great attitude the entire game, but they never gave him a chance to carry the ball. The same 3 kids got it the entire game… just like the week before. When the game was almost over I walked across the field and asked one of the coaches wives why they weren’t letting every kid touch the ball. I guess I asked the wrong person. She went off. Like really went off. She yelled, she cussed, and she made herself look like a total jerk. I was mad. Everything in me wanted to go get my sweet little boy and leave, but I let him finish the game. After the game they had a team meeting where all of the parents whose kids have been getting the ball every other play let my husband know how irrational he was for thinking Gus should get the ball ONCE a game. We weren’t saying give it to him every play, or every other play, all we were asking for is once a game and we shouldn’t even be having to ask since those are the rules for small fry football at the Y. It was not a good experience. We decided to take him off the team.
I got home that afternoon and could not stop thinking about what happened. Josh had to leave for work so I was alone and stewing. I had more I wanted to say and didn’t get a chance to say it. I had great points that I wanted to make, but instead of hearing me out I got treated like I was crazy. Ugh! I was so frustrated! After about an hour of being mad, I finally got my mind quiet enough to hear God tell me I needed to calm down. I realized I was wrong for allowing such silly parents to make me so mad. I asked Him to forgive me and then the hard part… I had to forgive the coaches and parents- not because they asked, but because I knew that God forgave me when I wronged His son and He’s asked me to do the same when someone wrongs me… even if they wrong me 70 x 7 times.
Then God reminded me of a scripture that he gave to my father-in-law when a life long friend deeply hurt him.
Luke 9:62 But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”
What happened at the football field was in the past and I was going to have to stop looking back. I have a family to take care of, blogs to write, and ministry to fulfill. My hand is more to the plow at this point in life than it has ever been before, and I can’t let a stupid thing like this get me looking back instead of pressing forward. I want to be fit for the kingdom of God and if I’ve got unforgiveness in my heart I know I won’t be.
If you have an open wound, take time to close it up by choosing to forgive the person or people who wronged you. You may be thinking that the wound you have is more serious than the one I had caused by a couple of out of hand parents at a football game, and you are probably right, but God doesn’t tell us to forgive people only if it’s not too serious of an offense. If we want to be fit for the kingdom, we have to forgive the small wrongs and the big wrongs.
It’s amazing how much better I felt after I made the decision to forgive. A weight was lifted and I felt like I could think clearly again. I know we’ve all heard it a thousand times, but it’s so good it has to be said again…
Unforgiveness is like taking poison and hoping that the other person dies. – Joyce Meyer
Matthew 6:14 For if you forgive people their trespasses [their reckless and willful sins, leaving them, letting them go, and giving up resentment], your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
I’ve let it go and I’m going to keep on plowing… my eyes fixed on the prize.
- God doesn’t struggle with forgiveness. He is the ultimate forgiver.
- God spoke to me and helped me get over my anger.
- I only wasted one hour being angry instead of the whole evening… or the rest of the week!
- My hand is to the plow and my eyes are on Jesus.
- Writing today made me feel even lighter.
- Gus was oblivious to all the nonsense.
- Joyce Meyer. What a woman of God.
- Josh and I were unanimous about the decision to end the football season yesterday… Gus will have a lot more fun playing in the back yard with dad.
- Got to teach the 5 year olds at church today about how God wants to speak to them.
- Josh kept coming by my class today… I think he has a crush on me.
- Sunday afternoon nap.
- Josh surprised us after church and brought home a bunch of groceries so we could cook out tonight.
- Beautiful day.
- We let Gus go full speed in his Jeep Power Wheels with Beau for the first time and she was laughing and screaming like she was having the time of her life.
- We live in a cul de sac.
- Beau said over and over, “this is the best day ever” when I was pushing her on the swing.
- The backyard is always nice and shady at dinner time.
- Beau and Gus love eating at their little picnic table together and I love hearing them over there laughing and being silly together.
- Josh made some very tasty hamburgers.
- Gus was thrilled that he got to drink blue cream soda from a real glass bottle.
- Braum’s for dessert!
- Rocky road. Haven’t had that flavor since I was a kid… it was good!
- Wreck It Ralph birthday party planning has begun. It’s going to be good.
- Someone took the time to message me and let me know how helpful yesterday’s blog about the voice of God was for her.
- Lots of good custom cake recommendations from my Tulsa friends… makes finding a place to make Gus’ cake much easier!
- Gus detests button up shirts. He is ALL boy. He looked pretty cute in one today at church.
- Realized I left my water in Beau’s room a few minutes after I tucked her in and when I went in to get it she was telling Piglet that she was getting sleepy. I enjoyed spying on her for a little while. She is sugar and spice and everything nice.
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