blue tailed skinks and other blessings

 

I've been involved with KCU soccer since 2011. 

Being part of the team the last 11 seasons has been a huge blessing in my life.

Sometimes I go through a time of questioning.

"Am I making a difference by sitting in my lawn chair?"

"Is this a ministry or am I lying to myself?"

"Would it matter if I didn't come?"

"Is my time here drawing to a close?"

I've been in one of those seasons since early July. I missed  practices the first few days the kids were back. I didn't attend a single morning practice during the "two a days". The first afternoon practice I made it to I was told the players had been asking every day if I was coming. Those words and the  welcoming hugs I received  made my heart warm, but my head was still wrestling with questions. 

The girls practice closer to where I sit and are quick to warmly and loudly greet me when I come to practice. They are also anxious to have another family dinner at my house. It makes me smile from the inside out. 

Yesterday one of the boys stood by me as I sat in the chair they refuse to allow me to bring out or put away for myself, and told me about a death in his family and asked me to pray for him. I stood and put my arm around his waist and petitioned the Father on behalf of him and his family. The hug he gave me was sweet to my soul  and I knew, without a doubt I was exactly where I needed to be. 

I little later when the team came in for a water break one young man approached me with a grin on his face that I am very familiar with. It's the one he uses when he's found a small frog  in the field and wants me to hold it for him until practice is over. Except this time it was a different treasure. He'd found a blue tailed skink. As he transferred it from his hands to mine I dropped it. I apologized. He continued to smile, not upset I'd lost his newest find. The next water break he came with the same grin and a different skink. How he spotted them in the Bermuda grass while playing is beyond me. This time the transfer was successful. And as I sat there with a small lizard cupped in my hands I realized that my treasure was greater than his. He trusts me. He is confident I will accept anything he gives me and keep it safe. After about 15 minutes I did get a bottle to put it in so I wouldn't drop it. And as long as it's frogs and lizards, I'll be okay. I don't think I have enough love if he ever comes with a snake though...

I think my questions have been answered for this season. Sitting in a chair, smiling and greeting them, making small talk when they come in for water breaks and praying with them when they circle up after practice does make a difference. This is a ministry and I am blessed by it.