I’m a soccer mom. I have the over-sized apartment on wheels to prove it. It has a special feature in which it dumps a little trash out every time you open the door. I blush every time it happens. Usually, its a water bottle, a toy, a ball or some unidentifiable object. The best time was when Kate’s boot (on a very cold day I might add) fell out and went straight down a street drain. Yeah, we didn’t get that back.

Necessity is the Mother of Invention

Soccer winter session is about to start and I’m already feeling verklempt. It is really embarrassing that 2nd grade soccer can get to me like it does. So I bring my confessional to you as proof that I’m crazy.

I don’t need my son to be the best on his team (cause he isn’t) and I don’t need him to not make mistakes. I need him to do his best. I could handle it if I didn’t think sports was his thing but he has enough aptitude that he can play if he wishes. I know what is in him. The minute something fun crosses into work he checks out. It makes me crazy.

You don’t live until you truly work for something and then taste victory. To break through into a new way or level of doing something requires sacrifice, pain, grit and tears. Its unattractive and reduces you to crying for uncle, just a little relief. When there is none, once you realize you didn’t die, as you were certain you would, you begin to see that you have gotten stronger. With strength accrued, the next time you face that enemy you get the first glimpse of true victory. It might have been small.  But it tasted so good, that you literally become hungry for more pain so you can see more victory.

I want him to experience this. And then reality bluntly says but wait this is 2nd grade soccer! And I reply to myself, but this is life. And here I am on the crazy train- stopping and then starting, not sure if I need a Zanax or an energy drink.

As I watched him play one day, I realized that God saw the same potential in me. What others can’t see about me, God can see. He gets crazy just wanting me to understand the secret ingredient that He placed inside and how easily I give up, walk away and settle.

It’s in you too. What if God is telling you there is so. much. more?!? He sees it all and He’s on the crazy train trying to get your attention. Screaming from the sidelines that YOU CAN DO IT!

Seriously, what if God is for YOU like that?

**Special Note: I’m going to be posting a follow up post to this blog tomorrow. It is written by Joseph. It was his idea and except for a little initial coaching and a few spelling asks, he did it all by himself (including typing with proper hand position :). It’s brief and it will bless you. Plus, he is stoked about being the author of a blog!