Sports

For bodily exercise profiteth little;... 1 Tim 4:8

Sports are a man made creation that exalts man. It is basically a worldly participation of man in a game where he can exalt his greatness and physical prowess, his worldly attributes.

In a nutshell, sports are flesh games that exalt man rather than God.

As a Mom, I'm struggling with my own issues in it. I've touched on this issue in the past, but what happened tonight takes it to a whole new level.

My husband has coached our oldest son for the past 2 years in football. He is continuing to do so this year. Our middle son is starting football.

My husband attended every football practice and game of our oldest.

I understand that he will not be able to attend our middle son's practices or football games that are in conflict with our oldest son's schedule. But what about those times when they don't conflict? Like tonight...our middle son had football practice while our oldest did not have practice.

But it was his Mom that took him to practice.

I'm becoming quite adept at surrenduring what I expect out of my husband and just doing what I know is the right thing to do.

But in so doing, I don't want someone to sit across the room from me making excuses for why he was not there tonight. I'm learning to take this as par for the course.

And tonight, I was quite proud of myself, for I did not react in the flesh. While he sat there making excuses, I held my tongue. I actually told him to stop telling me his excuse when he was midway through it because I did not want to react in the flesh.

But he kept going, and I continued to hold my tongue.

And I have to pat myself on the back because in the past, this would have escalated into a rather big confrontation and argument!

So, I have to ask myself, how will I react this Saturday?

My oldest has a game at 10:00 and my middle son has a game at 11:30 in a neighboring town. Will he make the effort to high tail it right after our oldest son's game to our middle son's game? I know that Mom will make that effort. I already have it planned where one of the other players family will take our middle son to his game, so that I can watch most of my oldest son's game. And then leave to go to my middle son's game and watch him play.

I have to consciously make an effort to attempt to watch both games.

Will he hang out after our oldest son's game, visiting with parents and other coaches? And just so happen miss our middle son's game?

I know that other families are struggling with similiar issues, but this beats all I've ever seen.

A parent is NOT SUPPOSED to show any sort of favoritism to one child over another child.

And as a mother that is witnessing this happening to my own children, I'm starting to get ruffled under the feathers, needless to say.

Like I said, I fully understand when there is a scheduling conflict between the two children. But when there is not the conflict, why not show support of the middle child?

I am personally taking an oath as a mother to remain as enthusiastic about each one of my children's achievements, be it my first son, my second son, my third son or my fourth son. I don't care if each one of his brothers has achieved the same thing in the past, I'm going to be just as enthusiastic when my fourth son achieves the very same thing! I have to do that, I have to do that, I have to do that, I have to do that! I owe it to each one of my children to do that!

As a mother, I'm tempted to pull all our sons out of participating in any sports programs offered at all in our community. It is opening an entry point for the devil to come in and pervade my thoughts.

But in so doing, I would be cheating my younger sons from participating in sports when the opportunity has already been provided for their older brothers.

1 Timothy 4:8 just jumps out at me and slaps me in the face.

What should I do? Any words of wisdom would be appreciated.

Dear God, Dear Lord, Dear Father, please help me with this issue. I know what needs to be done, but I don't think I have the courage to do it. Please give me wisdom and insight. Please help me to deal with this issue. I thank You, dear God, for providing me with the knowledge and the forethought on how to handle this issue. Thank You! I praise You!

I pray this in Jesus' precious and holy and almighty name!