My boys just finished up their high school football season with a better record than last year. That may sound great, but wait until you read this– it was a better record by just one win, as in last year our varsity didn’t win and this year we won one.
One game won, and that one game against our rival was by far the most favorite memory of every senior player. But it’s not too hard to pick when you only have one win.
What that one win doesn’t account for is how hard these boys worked, and the so many great plays, close calls– and bad calls. What it also doesn’t account for is how these boys grew together despite adversity and a dwindling fan base.
Nothing like a losing team to lose fans. I get it, I went to SMU so I feel like a fair-weather, band-wagon fan myself. But winning isn’t everything– at least for those on the field. And to be honest, though I wish our boys could’ve won more, sometimes being on the #1, most elite, always-winning-team isn’t best.
Real life, like football, is full of disappointments so I don’t see the losing as all loss. Often times it’s in the losing and not getting our way — not the winning and getting it all — that builds the most character, matures us and/or leads us into greater dependence on the Lord.
It’s in these times of trials it takes everything in us to keep putting one foot in front of the other and not lose heart. To give up would be easy, to endure is not. And yet, perseverance is what we are called to.
So whether our football boys know it or not, because of their disappointing season they come away a little more prepared for life.
For week after week they’ve continued to show up and give their all, not just in the games but at practice. They’ve stepped out on the field every Friday, full of grit and determination with hope.
They’ve bonded together, more united and supportive of each other than they were in the beginning, knowing they need one another and everyone matters.
They’ve seen how the naysayers and their own negative thoughts can get into their heads. What is needed is another voice to refute the lies so easy to believe.
And at the end of every game despite defeat they’ve held their heads eye and faced what’s left of the student body to sing the school song.
I am so proud of these boys. They have showed an enormous amount of courage. And I have no doubt this season will stick with my boys, serving to shape them into the men I hope they’ll be.
It hasn’t been all loss becaus winning really isn’t everything. And sometimes winning looks different than we think.
