A Lesson from the Football Field

By: Morgan Hause

Read: 1 Corinthians 9: 24-27; Philippians 3: 12-14

            Imagine with me for a moment, if you will, you’re standing on a football field.  What comes to your mind?  Probably football, right?  Well, while the football field’s main purpose is to be used for football games, it also can be a place some of life’s greatest lessons like “ get out of the way or you’ll get run over.”  One of the greatest lessons is a lesson on perseverance.  When I played football, people looked at me and thought, “ This kid is going to die.”  It was easy to see why they thought this being that I was the shortest kid on the team.  I could have given up my very first practice but I had been taught that you should always finish what you start so I didn’t quit.  Some might think I was just being stubborn, but I wasn’t.  There is a difference between stubbornness and perseverance.  Stubbornness is when you won’t give up a way of life to make difficult for others.  Perseverance is not giving up no matter how hard it gets.  I kept playing, and, as strange as it may sound, my size was a boon to the team.  Because of my size, I was able to slip through the line and make tackles.  Because I persevered, I helped my team.  Even though 8th grade was my last year, it doesn’t mean I’ve decided to give up.  It’s for the best.  But because I played football, I learned that it is important to persevere in everything you do.  Philippians 4:13 says, “ I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”  We need to trust God in everything we do and he’ll give us the strength we need to persevere in whatever we do.  So the next time you feel as if you’re not going to make it, remember, don’t worry and just keep on persevering.

            If you need help to persevere, pray this prayer.  This prayer is good to repeat before you try something that you need help to persevere in.  Just pray this:

Dear Heavenly Father,           

            Thank you for your love and kindness.  Please help me to persevere.  I can’t do this without your help and guidance.  Give me the strength I need in order to complete this task I have been given.  Don’t let me quit.

In Jesus’ name we pray,

Amen