There is a moving story about a skinny young boy who had a passion for football. Practice after practice, he eagerly gave everything he had. But being half the size of the other boys, he got absolutely nowhere. At all the games, this hopeful athlete sat on the bench and hardly ever played.
This teenager lived on alone with his father, and two of them had very special relationship. Even though the son was constantly on the bench, his father was always in the stands cheering. He never missed a game. This young man was still the smallest of the class when he entered high school. But his father continued to encourage him but also made it clear that son did not have to play football if he didn’t want to. The young man loved football and decided to it there. He was determined to give his best at every opportunity. Perhaps he’d get to play when he became a senior. Throughout high school he never missed a practice session nor a game. Still, he remained a bench warmer all 4 years.
His faithful father consistently attended the games, always profuse with words of support and encouragement for him. When the son went to college, he decided to try out for the football team as a “walk-in”. Everyone was sure he’d never make the cut, but he did. The coach admitted that the young man was kept on the roster because he always puts his heart and soul in the game, and provides the other members with the spirit and hustle they badly needed. The news that he had survived the cut thrilled him so much that he rushed to the nearest phone and called his father. The old man shared his excitement and was sent season tickets for all college games. However, the persistent young athlete never got to play in any of them.
It was the end of his senior football season. As the son trotted onto the practice field shortly before the big playoff game, the coach met him with a telegram. The young man read it and became deathly silent. Swallowing hard, he mumbled “My father died this morning. Is it alright if I miss practice today?” The coach put his arm around the grief-stricken lad and said, “Take the rest of the week off the week off son. And don’t even plan to come back to the games on Saturday.”
Saturday arrived, and the game was not going well. In the third quarter, when the team was 10 points behind, a silent young man quietly slipped into the empty locker room and put on his football gear. As he ran in to the sidelines, the coach and his players were astounded to see their faithful teammate back so soon.
“Coach, please let me play. I’ve just got play today, “said the young man. The coach pretended not to hear him. There was no way he wanted his worst player in these close playoff game. But the athlete persisted. Feeling sorry for the kid, the coach relented, “All right. You can go in.”
Before long, the coach, the players, and everyone in the stands could not believe their eyes. This little unknown, who had never played before was doing everything right. The opposing team could not stop him. He ran Passed, blocked and tackled like a star. His team began to triumph. The score was soon tied. In the closing second of the game, the kid intercepted a pass and ran all the way for the winning touchdown. The fans broke loose. His teammates hoisted him into their shoulders. The cheers were deafening.
Finally, after the stands had emptied, the team had showered and left the locker room, the coach noticed that this young man was sitting quietly in a corner, all alone. He approached him and said, “Kid, I can believe it. You were fantastic! Tell me, what got in to you? How did you do it?” He looked at the coach with tears in his eyes and replied, “You knew my Dad died, BUT DID YOU KNOW THAT MY FATHER WAS BLIND? The young man swallowed hard and forced a smile, “Dad came to all my games, but today was the first time he could see me play. I wanted to show hi I could do it!”
Like the athlete’s father, God is always there cheering for us. He’s always reminding us to go on. He’s even offering us His Hand for He knows what is best, and is willing to give us what we need and not simply what we want. God never missed a single game.
