قمر الزمان
12-26-2006, 12:46 PM
Here's a story that will touch your heart as it did
mine.
Bob Richards, the former pole-vault champion, shares a
moving story about a skinny young boy who loved
football with all his heart. Practice after practice,
he eagerly gave everything he had. But being half the
size of the other boys, he got absolutely nowhere. At
all the games, this hopeful athlete sat on the bench
and hardly ever played.
This teenager lived alone with his father, and the two
of them had a very special relationship. Even though
the son was always on the bench, his father was always
in the stands cheering. He never missed a game.
This young man was still the smallest of the class
when he entered high school. But his father continued
to encourage him but also made it very clear that he
did not have to play football if he didn't want to.
But the young man loved football and decided to hang
in there He was determined to try his best at every
practice, and perhaps he'd get to play when he became
a senior. All through high school he never missed a
practice nor a game but remained a bench-warmer
all four years.
His faithful father was always in the stands, always
with words of encouragement for him.
When the young man went to college, he decided to try
out for the football team as a "walk-on." Everyone was
sure he could never make the cut, but he did. The
coach admitted that he kept him on the roster because
he always puts his heart and soul to every practice,
and at the same time, provided the other members with
the spirit and hustle they badly needed.
The news that he had survived the cut thrilled him so
much that he rushed to the nearest phone and called
his father. His father shared his excitement and was
sent season tickets for all the college games.
This persistent young athlete never missed practice
during his four years at college, but he never got to
play in a game. It was the end of his senior football
season, and as he trotted onto the practice field
shortly before the big playoff game, the coach met
him with a telegram.
The young man read the telegram and he became deathly
silent. Swallowing hard, he mumbled to the coach, "My
father died this morning. Is it all right if I miss
practice today?" The coach put his arm gently around
his shoulder and said, "Take the rest of the week off,
son. And don't even plan to come back to the game
on Saturday."
Saturday arrived, and the game was not going well. In
the third quarter, when the team was ten points
behind, a silent young man quietly slipped into the
empty locker room and put on his football gear. As he
ran onto the sidelines, the coach and his players were
astounded to see their faithful teammate back so
soon. "Coach, please let me play. I've just got to
play today,"said the young man. The coach pretended
not to hear him. There was no way he wanted his worst
player in this close playoff game.
But the young man persisted, and finally feeling sorry
for the kid, the coach gave in. "All right," he said.
"You can go in."
Before long, the coach, the players and everyone in
the stands could not believe their eyes. This little
unknown, who had never played before was doing
everything right. The opposing team could not stop
him. He ran, he passed, blocked, and tackled like a
star. His team began to triumph. The score was soon
tied. In the closing seconds of the game, this kid
intercepted a pass and ran all the way for the winning
touchdown.
The fans broke loose. His teammates hoisted him onto
their shoulders. Such cheering you never heard.
Finally, after the stands had emptied and the team had
showered and left the locker room, the coach noticed
that this young man was sitting quietly
in the corner all alone The coach came to him and
said,"Kid, I can't believe it. You were fantastic!
Tell me what got into you? How did you do it?"
He looked at the coach, with tears in his eyes, and
said, "Well, you knew my dad died, but did you know
that my dad was blind?"
The young man swallowed hard and forced a smile, "Dad
came to all my games, but today was the first time he
could see me play, and I wanted to show him I could do
it!"
Like the athlete's father, God is always there
cheering for us. He's always reminding us to go on.
He's even offering us His hand for He knows what is
best, and is willing to give us what we need
and not simply what we want. God has never missed a
single game.
What a joy to know that life is meaningful if lived
for the Highest. Live for HIM for He's watching us in
the game of life!
Love & Blessings,
mine.
Bob Richards, the former pole-vault champion, shares a
moving story about a skinny young boy who loved
football with all his heart. Practice after practice,
he eagerly gave everything he had. But being half the
size of the other boys, he got absolutely nowhere. At
all the games, this hopeful athlete sat on the bench
and hardly ever played.
This teenager lived alone with his father, and the two
of them had a very special relationship. Even though
the son was always on the bench, his father was always
in the stands cheering. He never missed a game.
This young man was still the smallest of the class
when he entered high school. But his father continued
to encourage him but also made it very clear that he
did not have to play football if he didn't want to.
But the young man loved football and decided to hang
in there He was determined to try his best at every
practice, and perhaps he'd get to play when he became
a senior. All through high school he never missed a
practice nor a game but remained a bench-warmer
all four years.
His faithful father was always in the stands, always
with words of encouragement for him.
When the young man went to college, he decided to try
out for the football team as a "walk-on." Everyone was
sure he could never make the cut, but he did. The
coach admitted that he kept him on the roster because
he always puts his heart and soul to every practice,
and at the same time, provided the other members with
the spirit and hustle they badly needed.
The news that he had survived the cut thrilled him so
much that he rushed to the nearest phone and called
his father. His father shared his excitement and was
sent season tickets for all the college games.
This persistent young athlete never missed practice
during his four years at college, but he never got to
play in a game. It was the end of his senior football
season, and as he trotted onto the practice field
shortly before the big playoff game, the coach met
him with a telegram.
The young man read the telegram and he became deathly
silent. Swallowing hard, he mumbled to the coach, "My
father died this morning. Is it all right if I miss
practice today?" The coach put his arm gently around
his shoulder and said, "Take the rest of the week off,
son. And don't even plan to come back to the game
on Saturday."
Saturday arrived, and the game was not going well. In
the third quarter, when the team was ten points
behind, a silent young man quietly slipped into the
empty locker room and put on his football gear. As he
ran onto the sidelines, the coach and his players were
astounded to see their faithful teammate back so
soon. "Coach, please let me play. I've just got to
play today,"said the young man. The coach pretended
not to hear him. There was no way he wanted his worst
player in this close playoff game.
But the young man persisted, and finally feeling sorry
for the kid, the coach gave in. "All right," he said.
"You can go in."
Before long, the coach, the players and everyone in
the stands could not believe their eyes. This little
unknown, who had never played before was doing
everything right. The opposing team could not stop
him. He ran, he passed, blocked, and tackled like a
star. His team began to triumph. The score was soon
tied. In the closing seconds of the game, this kid
intercepted a pass and ran all the way for the winning
touchdown.
The fans broke loose. His teammates hoisted him onto
their shoulders. Such cheering you never heard.
Finally, after the stands had emptied and the team had
showered and left the locker room, the coach noticed
that this young man was sitting quietly
in the corner all alone The coach came to him and
said,"Kid, I can't believe it. You were fantastic!
Tell me what got into you? How did you do it?"
He looked at the coach, with tears in his eyes, and
said, "Well, you knew my dad died, but did you know
that my dad was blind?"
The young man swallowed hard and forced a smile, "Dad
came to all my games, but today was the first time he
could see me play, and I wanted to show him I could do
it!"
Like the athlete's father, God is always there
cheering for us. He's always reminding us to go on.
He's even offering us His hand for He knows what is
best, and is willing to give us what we need
and not simply what we want. God has never missed a
single game.
What a joy to know that life is meaningful if lived
for the Highest. Live for HIM for He's watching us in
the game of life!
Love & Blessings,