Don't cry yet, Charlie, it's only halftime!

The game was extremely tense... the opposing team continued to stretch the lead.  Late in the 2nd quarter, the crowd (including most of my family) clearly communicated their concern with the seeming inconsistent officiating.  Tempers were flaring on the court and in the stands - cheering was loud - nerves were taut - all were standing in frustration.... (Are you feeling the heat, here??)  This IS high school basketball, at least in that gym on that evening.

Just seconds before half-time, our team was down by ten.  Even with his strongest 5-year-old resolve, Charlie just could not shoulder the pressure.  No one even noticed at first... the game was the focus... the heat of the moment... the passion of the love of this team.

He began to sniffle, then to cry, then to sob, then an all-out hysteria.  With many questions and much comforting, his words finally came...

 "We are going to lose - I don't want to lose!!!"

Oh honey, it's only halftime.  There is plenty of time for a turn around.  You know the coach, right??  He's your dad - you trust that he knows what he is doing, right?  He will talk to all the players during halftime... and, honey, it is just a game.  We just might lose, but that is okay, too.  So each of us took a turn encouraging Charlie, whispering in his ear that all would be well;  one held his hand; one reminded him of other games that felt this same out-of-control; another picked him up and just hugged him as his crying slowed.  That's what family does - when one is hurting or confused or frustrated or overwhelmed... or lost, we step in and offer... we offer what we have and what is needed.

Other games have been just as loud, just as intense, just as passionate... why such an overwhelmed reaction from our tenderhearted middle grandson this night.  Was he tired, was he just having an unusually hard day, had it been a bad week, was he frustrated with an older or younger brother, had someone hurt his feelings earlier in the day??  Many factors played into his response, but as I thought about it, I gained my own insight.

What days have I just felt like I couldn't get through it.  The day was just too much - the pressure was simply overwhelming.  I was tired.  The week had brought too many challenges.   How could she have believed that about me?  Why couldn't that friend just has understood what I meant?  When would I rest?  Maybe I needed halftime!

We know the perfect Father... we could compare Him to the coach like I did this time last year.  (You can click here to read that.. boys and basketball March, 2015)

For this day we have the privilege of knowing Him - the creator of the entire game.  Thanks be to His name that HE allows us to participate in the lives of others.  

Like Charlie sometimes I feel frustrated... overwhelmed... fearful... sad... angry... weary.  i just need someone to hold my hand, to remind me of God's provision, to literally lift me up.  How about you?  Who this week needs you to meet them in the bleachers and just sit beside them?

You know I'm still early in the Old Testament this year.  I continue to be again fascinated by the 40 years of wandering in the desert... and how very much they learned about the character and power of God.  Even as they learned, they knew they needed each other.  The picture of Moses following God's instruction to stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in his hand.  As long as his hand was raised, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the battle began slipping away.  So his friends.. his family stepped in...

When Moses' hands grew tired, 

they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. 

 Aaron and Hur held his hands up - one on one side, one on the other - 

so that his hands remained steady till sunset.  The battle was won.

Exodus 17:12

Doesn't matter so much, but the night we held Charlie's hand... we won the game.  :)

Boys and Basketball