Over the years, I’ve had the
opportunity to watch my kids participate in quite a few state playoff
games. In the weeks and days leading up
to the game, the excitement and anxiety is felt by the whole family. Sometime prior to the game, I’ve given my
children the same advice. “Don’t be so
nervous that you forget to appreciate what you’ve done. Very few people get this chance. Take a deep breath, look around, and enjoy
yourself. And no matter what happens, I
love you.”
As a parent
and spectator of those games, I’ve chewed my fingernails, covered my eyes and
even fallen to the ground in relief.
I’ve paced behind the bleachers, snapped pictures and cheered wildly
while running down stadium steps. In
every case, my greatest wish has been to be there with my child and his or her
teammates. However, with the AIA (the
entity that governs Arizona High School sports) standards I, along with the
other fans, have been required to remain behind the fence or in the stands when
the game concluded. No amount of anger,
cajoling, begging, or flattery could grant me physical access to the team. And so, I was left watching from a distance
as the players and coaches celebrated a victory or mourned a loss. In those moments of greatest happiness or
deepest despair, I would have given anything to be at my child’s side. Whether it was to comfort a distraught
daughter or rejoice with an exhausted son, I had hoped to share the moment with
them. But sitting on the sidelines, all
I could do was shout and wave hoping for their attention. Hoping that I could provide the support that
they needed. Hoping that they would
remember my advice to enjoy themselves, to be proud of their efforts and always
remember my love.
As I’ve
looked back at those situations, I’ve often thought that it is not unlike our
journey here on Earth. Prior to birth,
Heavenly Father surely taught us and loved us he planned for our earthly existence. Yet as we experience this life, His own
standards leave Him in the bleachers, hoping, watching, and cheering. I’m sure
he would love to personally comfort us when we are weak or celebrate with us
when we succeed. Yet just like my
experiences in the bleachers of football and softball games, He has to remain
physically distant from His children.
And yet, He’s still there, hoping that we will look up to Him in our
trials as well as our triumphs. He wants
us to turn to him through prayer. He
wants us to remember His lessons and teachings.
Most importantly, he wants us to always remember His love.
President
Spencer W. Kimball taught: “God does notice us, and he watches over us. But it
is usually through another person that he meets our needs. Therefore, it is
vital that we serve each other.”
There are many times that I’ve felt “sidelined” as a
parent. Not by the restrictions of the
AIA, but by my own flaws, ineffectiveness or circumstances. It’s been in those difficult situations that my
heartfelt prayers have been answered by acts of service from this humble
community. Those answers have come in
the form of patient coaches who have been able to teach my children lessons
they don’t want to hear from me. They
have come in gifts of tortillas when Cade separated his shoulder and in ice cream
when Lauren knocked her teeth out. They come from my kids’ friends who have set
good examples. They come from dedicated
teachers who realize that helping kids grow personally is as important as
teaching a subject matter. Equally, these
same good people have offered sincere joy in my children’s success. They’ve clipped newspaper articles that
mention my kids. They’ve shown interest
in recent games and upcoming activities.
They have sought ways to individually meet with my children to encourage
and praise them. In each instance, I’m reminded that God does
watch over my family and me. Through
the strength, assurance, guidance and support of my friends and neighbors, I am
reminded of my Heavenly Father’s presence.
It is in their simple acts of kindness that I recognize His love.
