Sports Help Kids Get The Grade

When I was a kid - sports was something that went on everyday - whether it was at school or in the middle of the street in front of my house. I have many fond memories of playing with the neighborhood kids - everyday was an adventure. We all shared crazy imaginations and moms who always had Koolaid and snacks available to fuel our activities. We rode our bikes from our front porches to the pyramids of Egypt - we went on scavenger hunts for important items. We would play hide and seek for hours - until the street lights came on and then it was time to go home for dinner...

Those days are gone.... Our neighborhood is so quiet... There are very few children or teenagers... I have no idea where they all went off to... My girls have always had to make "play dates" or join different clubs or sports to stay active and socialize with their friends.... I wish my girls could have experienced the carefree and wild days of neighborhood youth and adventure....

Monday night we went to my oldest daughter's Tennis Banquet... It's hard to believe that she is already a freshman. It was wonderful to see the bonding that takes place between the players... The entire senior class players were all awarded high GPA awards... This reminded me how important it is to have our kids in a sport (s)... Statistics show that kids who are in sports are more likely to have better grades because they learn time management and they are usually competitive and driven to succeed...

My girl....

Relieved It Wasn't My Daughter...

When my youngest was around six (6) years old she decided she wanted to try gymnastics - There was a introduction to gymnastic class through the city and I signed her up.... The class took place at a pretty well known gym (I did not know it at the time) - after the first day of lessons her teacher came up to me and said that she was a natural... I took it to mean they wanted me to sign her up for classes to make more money... I said "that's nice" and did not think about it again until....

The owner of the gym came up to me at my daughter's last lesson and said that he believed she had a lot of natural talent and thought it would be great to have her take lessons... My daughter loved the idea and she started taking 2 - 1 hour classes a week. Before I knew it (within 6 months) she was on team and competing... Her classes had increased to 4 days a week at 3 hours plus each day... She also had private coaching on the weekends.... Later she switched gyms to work with a well known coach who had sent several girls to the Olympic games... This is where the fun became a job.... this is where my kid discovered she no longer wanted to this sport and after watching her cry in pain more times than I could count along with the other girls - I believed she made the right decision... Gymnastics is a sport that you have love to continue or the pain... the hours... the complete dedication is not worth it..

I was relieved on so many levels when she quit.... Relieved that I no longer had to hold my breath when she would swing through the air on the uneven bars.... or flipping her body onto the 4 inch beam... or climbing the rope to the ceiling (that still gives me the chills).. Relieved that I don't have to juggle a gymnastic schedule... relieved that I don't have to pay the expensive tuition and private lessons.... relieved I no longer have to listen to the all consuming gossip of the other moms... the viciousness was amazing... Most of all, I am relieved that I don't have to worry about her breaking a leg.. an arm... or worse like so many girls do each year....

The reason I am writing about this today is - I ran into a mom of a gymnast that I once knew - I asked her how her daughter was doing... She said that her daughter received a full ride to a pretty good college and in the first competition she hurt herself on the uneven bars... she broke her back.... she lost her scholarship.... she is still in extensive therapy.... and in excruciating pain....

I hope I don't sound awful by saying this.... but the main thing that was going through my mind when this mother was telling me about her daughter... besides how awful I felt for her was that I thank God my kid quit in time....

Jesus In Sports....

I am a fan of Tim Tebow - the University of Florida Gators' star quarterback... I am not a fan of football - I have no idea what a first down is and what the heck is a conversion.... but I do like the man and this is why..

He was the first college football player to both rush and pass for 20 touchdowns in a season and was the first sophomore to win the Heisman trophy.... Okay this is great - but this is not why I admire him.... I admire him because in all things he gives thanks and praise to God. He is not shy about his faith - just ask him...

Tim is a person that is living the life that Christ wants us to live.... He is active in the missionary field - going to the Philippines and working in orphanages. He is not afraid to say that he is waiting until he gets married - he is saving himself for his future wife.... When you listen to him speak he is humble... he is thankful. Broadcasters, coaches, and fans cannot say enough about him. He is a born leader.... he's a Heisman Trophy winner and two-time national champion. he spends his time when not in school or on the field spreading the "Good News".. Of course, Tim is not a saint - he is simply a man who loves God...

The other day - I was reading an article in USA Today - the article was written by a guy that believes that God should be taken out of sports... This is a direct quote: "In big-time sports, God often gets a prominent place on the field of play. A shout-out here, a prayer there. But this faith surge is being powered by a brand conservative Christianity that is - like two teams competing on the field - very 'us' vs. 'them'" Tom Krattenmaker. In his article, he was basically saying that Christians who believe that Jesus is the only way to Heaven are judges... That they are not good for the sports world.... or any world...

A few more quotes: "I am impressed by the good that's done by sports-world Christians. Jesus-professing athletes are among the best citizens in their sector, and they commit good deeds daily in communities across the county. I know these evangelical players are not out to harm - they are fulfilling the Bible's Great Commission "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit - Matt 28:19. In this sense, their mission is pure altruism: They seek to share the gift of eternal life.... But there's a shadow side to this. If their take on God and truth is the ONLY right one - which their creed boldly states - everyone else is wrong....." Tom Krattenmaker

It is strange to me how today's society wants the world and God's acceptance to be under their terms... Not God's terms.... John 14:6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." You have heard people say that all roads lead to God... Well, that is not true.... Not in any form.... The Bible clearly states - no exceptions.. no bending the rules... The only way is through Jesus Christ... Acts 4:10,12 Then know this, you and all people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raise from the dead, that this man stands before you healed.. Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under Heaven given to men by which we must be saved."

In this article I read - the writer is basically saying this - okay the Jesus loving athletes are good people.. they do a lot of good things... but..... what about the people that don't believe in Jesus? What about the people who don't believe in God? Christians are not being fair.. Christians are promoting a belief that makes non-believers feel bad.... Even though Tim Tebow is a great guy - great athletic - great volunteer - great hearted - God loving man - he's not really all that good.. because "Tebow espouses a far-right theology. It's bottom line: Only those who assent to its version of Christianity will avoid eternal punishment" another direct quote...

My final thought is this: God gave us free will - free will to decide to accept His Son or not... I pray that the seeds of Christ and His love are planted in the non-believers.... Jesus is an Equal Opportunity Savior - you just have to accept Him......

Quitters Never Become Winners

I remember when Nikki was in the third grade and Art Masters came to her school. Her class would learn about a famous artist and then learn a technique that the artist would use in their craft... Nikki's teacher would send me a note almost each month during Art Masters and it would read something like this: "I wanted to let you know that Nikki was having a difficult time today during Art Masters. She became very unhappy with her project and tore it up and wanted to try again...as I told Nikki everyone only gets one try... can you please tell Nikki not to be so hard on herself.. I try... but she does not listen to me. Thank you, Mrs. Brown"
Well Nikki is still the kid who expects to be perfect without years of practice.. She is very impatient. I can't count how many times - I hear her up in room growling in frustration. Something she was doing was not meeting her high expectations of herself.. I have learned to ignore it.... additional drama that I so don't need...
She has tried gymnastics, kickboxing, swimming and tennis... She gave up on gymnastics because her younger sister turned out to be a natural and proceeded to a high level very quickly.. so Nikki turned to kickboxing (she assured me this is what she wanted) I told her she had to give it at least a year - Three hundred and sixty five days later - she quit.. why? Because it was hard and she was "out of shape"... So she tried swimming- convinced that because she loves swimming in our pool that the swim team would be a perfect fit.. WRONG - after three months - she cried to get off the team - it was too hard.... then Nikki was convinced that she was the next world's best tennis player... so again - we gave her the chance... After she played for about a year - her little sister joined... Gymnastic practices exceeding twenty hours a week took its toll on Kara (my youngest) and our family... that will be a different story.. any hoo.. tennis has brought them together and they have enjoyed it for three years..... until..... today..
Today, Nikki came up to me and said she wanted to quit tennis.... Why I asked.... "It's too hard and I'm not any good!" (she's in the highest level for her age - she is good and she loves it) Knowing my kid as well as I do.... I said" No..." "WWWWWWWWWWWHHHHHYYYYY?" she whined. I told her that she has to stop giving up on things because she may have had a bad day. It takes practice and commitment to be good at things and then I used the phrase we have all heard at some point in our lives..."Quitters Never Become Winners and Winners Never Quit" and Nikki you will be a winner and you will be good... better than good.. I am not going to let you quit...
As parents we need to know when it is the right time to allow our kids to quit something and when not too. Staying involved in our children's lives gives us the knowledge to know what is best for them....I know Nikki will be happy I did not let her quit... because I know she loves it..**note - Nikki just came into my office and said she really does love tennis and will practice her strokes in the mirror like her coach suggested.... Let's see what tomorrow brings... shall we..?