No act of kindness,
no matter how small,
is ever wasted.
- Aesop
Today
I shall behave as if this is the day I will be remembered. - Dr. Seuss
Coaches have the
opportunity, responsibility, and privilege of teaching more than just their
sport. Character, integrity,
citizenship, manners, and sportsmanship are taught, modeled, and learned
through participation in sports. Last
week, the Bryan High
School Vikings basketball team played in the playoffs. After the game was over, and the fans had
gone, the basketball players went up into the stands and helped the custodian
pick up the trash on the home side bleachers.
They are learning that life is more than what happens in a game. No matter the final score of the game, these
young men and their coaches are winners.
In another momentous
basketball game, Jordan Bohannon, Iowa State’s sophomore point guard, had a
chance to break the 25 year school record of 34 consecutive free throws in Hawkeyes’
games. Twenty-five years ago Chris
Street broke the record that still stands today. On January 19, 1993, Chris was on his way
home, after a night class and team meal, when his car collided with a snowplow
and he was killed. Not only was Street
an amazing athlete, but also a much respected young man, both on and off the
court. The school has since retired his
#40 jersey as well as named the outstanding player award in his memory. During the game on February 25, 2018, Jordan
tied Chris’ consecutive free throw record and then the play came to break the
record. As season ticket holders, Chris’
parents were in the arena. Right before
the go ahead shot, Jordan glanced up in Section KK at his older brother,
Zach. He was going through with the plan
they had discussed. Without trying to
make it obvious, Jordan Bohannon purposefully threw the ball short of the
basket so that he would miss the free throw.
He immediately, pointed toward the ceiling. He went on to make the following two free
throws in the game. When interviewed Jordan
stated: “Obviously that’s not my record
to have. Obviously that record deserves
to stay in his name. I’ve been really
close to his family these past couple of years.
… Just listening to his story, honestly, it’s really gotten me emotional
these past couple of games because I knew
what I wanted to do.” After the game
Bohannon tweeted, “Life is much bigger than basketball.” What an amazing example of unselfishness, respect, and heart.
May what overflows from
our hearts also be a blessing to God and his people.
A
good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil
man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth
speaks what the heart is full of.
Luke 6:45
A generous person will
prosper;
whoever refreshes others will be
refreshed.
Proverbs 11:25
Show
me your ways, LORD,
teach me your paths.
Psalm 25:4
Let
us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a
harvest if we do not give up.
Galatians 6:9
For
we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God
prepared in advance for us to do.
Ephesians 2:10
Do
not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
James 1:22
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