A lesson for my 3 sons - Losing isn't for losers!

To my 3 sons,

It's hard watching you struggle with a loss in football, especially when your loss is so bad on the score board. I usually don't know what to say as I've always seen losing as so awful!! I don't like to lose, and I know you don't like to lose either. It is disheartening, and makes you feel demoralized. I watched it in your face, and it breaks my heart. I know there are so many questions in your minds that are there as we drove 5 hours to get to Midland, wait out a thunderstorm only to feel so defeated. It is so discouraging and disappointing! I was praying and petitioning that the Lord would push back the storm so you could play, and then prayed that He would help you to win. Why did He push back the storm for you to just be so disappointed by another loss? This is what I was asking the Lord on the long drive home at 4 AM. Then something amazing happened....

I went to pick you up from the bus where you were sitting on the curb waiting for me, and I was overwhelmed watching all 3 of you get in the car so demoralized and tired! I thought it was going to be an awful ride home, and what do I say or will it just be awkward silence. The lesson that all 3 of you taught me was that losing isn't for losers!!  The conversation on the way home was reflective in nature on what happened, and what to do better for the FUTURE! Not one time did you discuss giving up. Losing is when you give up!! Losing is when you call it quits!! Losing is when you don't do any self reflection of the good and the bad. You didn't just look at either the good or the bad, but talked about what you each did well and what you each did bad. I was reminded of a warrior who loses a battle to come back and fight another day!! The battle is in the mind. It also reminded me of a verse in Micah:

But as for me, I will watch expectantly for the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation. My God will hear me. Do not rejoice over me, O my enemy. Though I fall I will rise; Though I dwell in darkness, the Lord is a light for me. Micah 7:7-8

I thought about a similar season we had the first year you played football where you lost all but one of your games. We played for another organization at the time that was about winning at all cost! We had to end up forfeiting half of the season because they put our team. which was mostly 6th & 7th grade kids against Juniors. We had 4 major injuries that game, and one major concussion. That too was a long bus ride home mostly mad we were put into such a position. What happened the following year was a miracle season when we started a new football association, and we went 9-0 for our first season with an average of 36 points and not one team was able to score on us. We never expected it, and that's what made it so great! Watching you 3 play football is such a lesson in winning & losing! This is the ups and downs of life, but the goal is to NEVER give up & NEVER give in!! To play the game fair, remain humble in winning or losing, learn from both winning and losing, & always give praise and glory to God almighty!!

When I watch you training for football (just like someone who runs a marathon) it takes such discipline of our bodies, often what our bodies can't do naturally without serious training. You have to build stamina, strength, and agility daily to tolerate what your bodies go through on the field. You have to discipline yourselves in your pads & helmets for your bodies to tolerate it. Even after losing you're ready to go back to do it more the following week is amazing stuff. Such discipline isn't for losers!!

Therefore I do not run aimlessly; I do not fight like I am beating the air. No, I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified. 1 Corinthians 9:27

Any loser can quit when the chips are down, and anybody can keep going to practice for more practices and games when they're winning. But it takes a real fighter and competitor to keep working to discipline their body after such a huge loss. I used to be the parent that was so impressed by your wins and I'll admit that, but I now know that you're way more impressive when you lose!! I'm proud of all 3 of you!!

With that being said, my prayer is that you always walk humbly with your God whether in a loss or win. He's given you all of your abilities and all Glory goes to Him.

He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God? Micah 6:8

Love, 

Your Loudest FAN & Mom!!