Warning: Sports rant of sorts.....There are a lot of things about youth recreational sports that are unfair and unfun. Like some kids sitting the bench a significantly larger amount of time than others, like parents having to pay to get in to their kids games, and like obnoxious parents yelling really mean things at their kids from the stands. HOWEVER, we will continue to let our kids play if they so choose for these reasons:
1) that's life. Life is most often unfair and unfun and we must learn to adapt and make the most of it. And we have to learn how to deal with difficult people. And we have to learn how to appreciate the grace others extend when we're the ones being difficult.
2) sports are mostly fun. We play to have fun. We play to learn how to enjoy things new and different, things we're good at and things we're not. Things like winning and friends and good plays and silly plays and and post game oatmeal cream pies.
3) Sports allow our kids to be a part of a team. They learn to work together with others and for others. They learn to share glory and share defeat, to share hard work and to share goofiness. They learn to be committed even when they don't want to go. They learn that others are counting on them.
4) Sports help our kids learn self-evaluation. They're not going to be the best at everything, or sometimes at anything. But they're probably not going to be the worst either. And even if they are, they have more than just skill to offer.
5) They learn the importance of hustle, and hard work, and being supportive even from the bench. And hopefully, we pray that they learn that their joy and their fun should not be determined by the scoreboard, but by the attitude and heart with which they play.
1) that's life. Life is most often unfair and unfun and we must learn to adapt and make the most of it. And we have to learn how to deal with difficult people. And we have to learn how to appreciate the grace others extend when we're the ones being difficult.
2) sports are mostly fun. We play to have fun. We play to learn how to enjoy things new and different, things we're good at and things we're not. Things like winning and friends and good plays and silly plays and and post game oatmeal cream pies.
3) Sports allow our kids to be a part of a team. They learn to work together with others and for others. They learn to share glory and share defeat, to share hard work and to share goofiness. They learn to be committed even when they don't want to go. They learn that others are counting on them.
4) Sports help our kids learn self-evaluation. They're not going to be the best at everything, or sometimes at anything. But they're probably not going to be the worst either. And even if they are, they have more than just skill to offer.
5) They learn the importance of hustle, and hard work, and being supportive even from the bench. And hopefully, we pray that they learn that their joy and their fun should not be determined by the scoreboard, but by the attitude and heart with which they play.
BUT.... In order for our kids to learn these lessons, we must first demonstrate them. Parents, seriously, we have got to stop whining about the bad and start celebrating the good. Sports are a gift from a good father. Let's treat them that way!
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