Learning to Value Ourselves More
by @bethvogt
I didn’t participate in school sports.
Oh, sure, I played the required PE activities where you wait to get picked for a team, hoping you’re not last. And I remember the games of kickball and dodgeball during recess in elementary school – back when schools allowed kids to play dodgeball. Kicking a “creeker” – a ball that sailed across the ravine that bordered the parking lot – was the sign of a premier kickball player.
Never kicked a “creeker.”
Never played a team sport – unless you consider being a “pom-pom” in high school a team sport. I was on a team, and I learned a routine – sometimes two – each week that involved marching and moving my arms to music during halftime at football and basketball games.
Yeah, not a sport. But I had fun.
Here’s why I didn’t participate in a team sport: I was always afraid I’d let my team down.
Now, I never told anyone that – I never even verbalized that out loud until I had a child who was all about being part of a team.
My daughter, Christa, has played volleyball since fifth grade. She loves playing volleyball — as in she “finds herself” on a volleyball court — and she finds God there, too. Since she was 13, she’s played volleyball year-round: school ball starting in the summer, and then club ball starting when school ball ends and going until early practices started for school volleyball started up. Throw in some summer clinics and workshops . . . you get the idea.
One day a few years ago we were talking and I mentioned how I never played sports in school. Christa was the first one I told, “I was always afraid I’d let my team down.”
Christa, my born to compete daughter, looked at me and said, “I play sports because I always want to help my team.”
That thought had never occurred to me. Not once.
I love it when my kiddos rock my world. When they make me think – and Christa definitely made me think that day.Here’s the thing about Christa, when she was first selected to play competitive club ball, she was young. Inexperienced. The coach looked at her that day and said, “You have some things to learn, but we like your attitude.”
I can’t help but believe he glimpsed Christa’s heart . . . the heart that wanted to help her team. His choice influenced her life in so many positive ways, not just by helping her become a better volleyball player.
Of course, I can’t go back and redo the past. Can’t earn an athletic letter for a high school jacket. None of us can go back and do the things we wish we’d done now that we’re older and wiser because we’ve learned a few things from our friends – or our kids.
But for me, I can value myself more. I can believe my abilities are an asset to others, not a disadvantage. I can worry less about myself and look for ways to help others.
What about you? Has someone said something to you that helped you see yourself differently? Helped you see one of your life choices differently? What are you doing about it? Maybe start with a thank you … and then make a change.
Who Do You Think You Are? Learning to Value Ourselves More http://bit.ly/2TX3Ajk #perspective #confidence Click To Tweet 'Jump high and hard with intention and heart.' Quote by author Cheryl Strayed http://bit.ly/2TX3Ajk #perspective #sports Click To Tweet
Comments 8
A call-and-response experiment. Does it work?
Today I saw the face of Death
(Hear me, and bow down!)
and he stole my full breath
(Behold my bloody crown!).
Looking left, and looking right
(You will not see salvation!)
well, I thought, why not fight
(You, fool, and what nation?).
Death, your eyeight is dismayed
(Alone you’ll stand and fall!)
and you don’t see angels arrayed
(Whence this white-hot wall??).
My Saviour chose to atone
for me, and I am not alone.
Author
Yes, Andrew — the call and response works.
And I know that you know who you are — better than most. I know you’ve relinquished much even as you’ve refused to give ground to even more.
Praying for you, my friend.
Beth, like you I didn’t play organized sports as a kid. But my excuse was because my parents couldn’t afford the expense or the risk. I was a tomboy playing pickup games with the neighborhood kids, riding bikes and running.
I was encouraged by my teachers and community leaders in my art ability which encouraged me to attend Commercial Art school. And after my first child was born I joined a women’s golf league and later participated in 5K and 10K races locally in my mid 30’s.
Author
The rest of the story, Daphne, is I got involved in karate after high school. Enjoyed it for several years — and it’s how I met my husband. But karate is not a team sport — you compete against yourself,improving your skill level.
A friend recently asked me a question that led me to think deeper about a sport I decided to get serious about. He asked, “How do you glorify God through Parkour?”
That got me thinking. Was this passion God-given, or just the result of my being an adrenaline junkie who’d stumbled on this ‘extreme sport’? And, could I take this sport further for God and expand His kingdom with Parkour?
This one, simple question my friend asked led me to a vision that I am convinced would bring a positive change in my community in the years to come.
But first, of course, I must be prepared. And that means training. And praying. And networking. And so much more…
Thanks for an encouraging and wonderful blog post as always, Beth!
Author
I love your answer, Odelia. I think we can reflect God in our lives in so many different ways — and our creativity pleases Him. Parkour? What a tremendous sport! 🙂 I’m excited to hear more about your future endeavor.
I love and respect Andrew’s poem and strong fight above–awesome!
I’m late to this party as we’re JUST back from a whirlwind but good trip to Nashville and back. I couldn’t do team sports through school because of my heart sitution (I COULD do books) but somewhere along the way learned to be a cheerleader, albeit not in visible uniform. In terms of validation as I’ve seen my students and my kids grow and succeed, I’ve basked in and been strengthened by that. These are good years. I’m befriended and grateful.
Author
Dee: You are a cheerleader and I believe you see every year as a good year. Every year I’ve known you has been a blessed year. 🙂