By nature of our hobbies and activities, there's a lot of focus on doing your best, finishing high and yes, even winning. My husband is a very competitive bass tournament fisherman and is pretty successful in those tournaments. My oldest daughter rides horses and competes in barrel races around our state. My middle daughter is still somewhere finding her niche but she has played softball a few years, cheered and gymnastics. Additionally, both girls love doing small, local beauty pageants in our area.
At times, there tends to be a little bit of attention paid to how much we invest in those activities versus our "return". Where the kids are concerned, my reasoning is that it is our responsibility to nurture them, help them develop and reach their potential while pursuing these activities which are their passions.
It can be hard at times to maintain a healthy balance in the midst of so much competitiveness and even harder to keep that "green eyed monster" under control. Frankly speaking, for me personally its even harder to see families who don't live the same Christian walk, standards, morals, etc seemingly "get ahead". I don't mind saying it's an issue with which I'm really struggling. When you hear the language, arrogance, poor sportsmanship it can be hard to stay in check.
This weekend, my husband and oldest daughter are experiencing a Championship Bass Tournament together of the Fishers of Men tournament trail. It's solely for adult/child, under 19, and its on a lake where my husband has been pretty successful. Last weekend, my husband and I fished a couple's tournament there and didn't do that well. I felt the green eyed monster creeping up as we watched others weigh in and kept reminding myself I was there to have a good time with my husband! I've joked all week that I hope my husband and daughter catch all the fish we left behind.
They headed up last night for the pre-tournament meeting and there was a professional fisherman speaking during the meeting. Randy Howell lives in Springville, Alabama and fishes the BassMaster Elite series. We are also fortunate and blessed to call he, his wife and their boys close personal friends. We all attended church together in our previous church home and enjoyed fellowship with them regularly.
Last night, I received a text from my daughter that she had "good news". I couldn't wait to hear her "good news". How little did I know how humbling her good news would be. She soon called me to relay her experience at the meeting and listening to Randy speak. Her words to me were, "I really felt God in my heart and knew he was there". Let me remind you she's eleven. She accepted Christ as her personal savior several years ago. However, last night with a tremor in her voice I heard the maturity of a Christian truly seeking a heart after God. I heard the desire so many of us need to have and should have. It was a humbling experience yet awesome to know I've had a "small part" in training up this child. (Proverbs 22:6 - Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it.)
In the midst of preparing for the big day, the championship, we were reminded of the ultimate championship by a young lady, who by most standards is a child. Joel 2:28 says "It will come about after this That I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind; And your sons and daughters will prophesy, Your old men will dream dreams, Your young men will see visions." In an instant I could see that scripture almost come to life over the phone. I don't want to be the one dreaming dreams and trying to tame the green eyed monster I want the vision and the heart after God. I want the heart of a child....my child!
Matthew 16:26
"For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?
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