A Lesson in Perseverance

When my oldest son was little, he used to love Rescue Heroes. We had a huge stack of the movies, and we probably owned almost the whole cast of heroes, not to mention many of the large vehicles the rescue guys drove. He would use his imagination, and the wrought iron column on our porch would become a ladder for his guys to rescue someone in distress. He often quoted one of the heroes' mottos: perseverance, perseverance, perseverance. It was a big word for a three-year-old. When I would ask him what it meant, he'd say, "Never give up."

Tuesday night was his first basketball game. (He's #3.)

He has played soccer for seven years. Since going to Middle School, he decided he needed something to keep him active in the winter so he joined the basketball team. He has done very well in soccer, but I was a little nervous about his basketball skills since he hasn't played very much. I was pleasantly surprised. He handled the ball pretty well for a beginner. However, it was a rough game. We lost by -- well, let's just say alot! He wasn't the only first year player.

As he was getting ready to go to bed that night, we were discussing the game. He was looking for some confirmation that he did okay, and I told him I was proud of him. His response made me laugh. "Why, because we got beat _____ to 0?" he said with disgust in his voice. I told him I was proud of him because he did his best and didn't give up. He played his heart out! That's what it takes to become a better athlete, and that's what it takes to become a better person. It's what I really want from him - to be fully committed and never give up.

Romans 5:3-4 tells us that suffering produces perseverance and that perseverance produces character. The Greek word for perseverance means steadfastness, constancy, endurance. In the New Testament, it is the charcteristic of a man who is not swerved from his deliberate purpose regardless of his circumstances. I want my son to get that now in his young life when it comes to basketball defeats, friendship struggles, grade disappointments, etc..., so that when he is older, he will know how to walk in patient, steadfast endurance when it comes to marriage struggles, work problems, parenting difficulties, etc... - never giving up on his purpose and calling in life, always playing with his whole heart.

It's amazing how some of the most important lessons in life can be taught in the simple, everyday moments. Horray for Rescue Heroes and basketball games!

Lord, I know my sons will have struggles and even suffering in this life. You have told us we will have disappointments and troubles. I pray that in those times, you will teach them to look to You instead of focusing on the hard stuff and letting it take their focus off what's really imprtant. Help them learn now as children that You are all they need. Help them learn to be steadfast in their pursuit to live for You. Teach them what it looks like to stay the course, never giving up.