Sports

I went hiking with my friend this weekend.  She has 2 girls that play flag football (they are 5 years old).  As we were hiking she was explaining some of the frustrations she was having about her daughters being in organized sports.   As she was talking it brought back memories of when our kids were in soccer.

Both of our sons were in soccer and they were fortunate to have their Dad be their coach.  I think they were 8 and 7.  My husband ran into some of the same pitfalls that happens in organized sports.  It really comes down to what is the goal of the organized sport.  Many parents and coaches think the main goal is to win at all costs, my husband's goal was to teach the children soccer and sportsmanship.  Even though the kids were 8 and 7 some parents wanted my husband to not let certain kids play as much as others and they complained if the score was close and my husband put in someone who was not as good as some others.  My husband told the parents that they all paid the same amount of money and the goal was to learn the game and sportsmanship.

Some things to consider when you sign up your child for organized sports:  what is the goal, who is the coach, what other children will be on their team and who are the other parents.  Sometimes you have to just roll with the punches, but it is a good idea to do a bit of research.  If your child is in an organized sport don't become part of the problem, use it as a teaching tool and remember your children and God are watching your reaction as much if not more than the circumstances.

Be wise, pray and have fun with your kids if you do sign them up for an organized sport.

Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you will be like him yourself.  Proverbs 26:4

The One You Are Stuck With

When my Aunt Judy stopped by last week she was telling me that her brother and sister in law like for her and her husband George to travel with them.  She said the reason why they like for Judy and George to travel with them is because they have fun.  My Aunt Judy has had a great marriage and the reason why it has been great is because she has worked at it and made it fun.  She used to remind me often that our kids will grow up and then it will be me and my husband again and that I should not neglect our marriage.  Now that our kids are grown and gone Aunt Judy was right.  I am glad that she kept reminding me, because right now God has blessed our empty nest.

When I observe some of the good marriages the one thing I notice that they all have in common is that they have fun.  My Grandma and Grandpa had a wonderful marriage and they had fun together.  My Grandma told me that when my Dad was little my Grandpa used to tease her that her cake was hard as a rock (it wasn't my Grandma was a great cook).  One day when my Grandma was getting ready to serve him some cake, he had to go to the basement and fix the furnace; while he was in the basement my grandma frosted a wooden block and set it on the plate.  When my Grandpa came up from fixing the furnace he had a saw in his hand and asked where his cake was.  My Grandma told me that story with a smile on her face and what a wonderful (and funny) memory.

Raising kids is time consuming and energy draining, but don't forget to have fun with "the one you are stuck with", because you are stuck with him for the rest of your life so you might as well enjoy it.  As you have fun together you are growing roots that can go deeper so that when the storms of life come your family tree can stand strong. 

Proverbs 31:11-12 Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value.  She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.