Who are You Rooting For?

Our family is divided!!

Thankfully, only by whom we root for in baseball!

I grew up a Cardinal’s fan!  My dad and his parents were die-hard Cardinal’s fans. 

My dad’s parents also lived in St. Louis, so we attended Cardinal’s games frequently!

However, I married a Cub’s fan!

And my husband passed on his love for the Cub’s to our sons!

My youngest son, Jay, and his wife root for the cubs!

But my oldest son, Zach, married a Cardinal’s fan…and they continue to root for their favorite teams!

Our daughter, Bekah, was a semi-Cubs fan growing up (I believe it was because she liked their striped shirts a little better), but she married a Cardinal’s fan and is now a Cardinal’s fan herself!

So, where does that leave me today??

My older grandsons often asked me that question….”Who do you like Gammy…the Cubs or the Cardinals”?

Hudson is a Cardinal’s fan and Graham is a Cub’s fan…they both are rooting for their daddy’s teams!

I usually respond with…”I like both teams”!!

But if I am completely honest…I would love to see the Cubs win the World Series! 

I mean it hasn’t happened in over 100 years!!

I might even watch a game or two on TV if they make it that far!

And I would love to see the joy and excitement on my husband and son’s faces when this phenomenon does happen!

And I believe the Cardinal’s fans in our family would even be happy for them as well!!

But if the truth be known…my all-time favorite teams…the teams I love to watch…and the games that I try to never miss are…

The teams my children played on when they were growing up…and the teams that my grandchildren are playing on today!

I loved watching my children hit that home run…make that touchdown…fist pump the air after making a double play…shoot the winning shot…and more!

I loved watching my daughter compete at dance competitions…moving…twirling…hip-hopping…across the gym floor!  I was mesmerized as she performed and couldn’t take my eyes off her…I loved watching her dance!

And now, I am just as excited to watch my grandsons as they begin their athletic endeavors!

Watching them race across the soccer field or stand up…ready to bat…I want to be on the sidelines or in the stands cheering them on!

Spending countless hours at difference athletic events over the years…I have heard a lot of cheering…and I have also heard a lot of jeering!

The words coming from the sidelines/stands haven’t always been positive or encouraging!

Even more difficult to hear and understand…is the parent who is the one verbally criticizing and attacking their son or daughter from the sidelines!

It breaks my heart!

I have seen the look of defeat wash across a child’s face when they hear a parent belittling them in front of everyone!

I can only imagine the conversation between the parent and the child on their way home from the game!

On the other hand…a child’s countenance is completely different when they look to their parents…confidently knowing that will be greeted with a smile and encouraging words!

The child may have not even made a spectacular play…but he or she knows that mom and dad are going to give him a thumbs-up when he looks to them for approval!

Why?  Because those parents know it is just game…and they are there to encourage their child!

I was reminded of this when I came across this post on Facebook:

Our children (grandchildren) may not remember how many wins or losses that occurred during the season, but they will remember the words we shared with them during the season!

1 Corinthians 11:2 states…”Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ”!

We need to model the behaviors that we hope to instill into our children and grandchildren!

They will remember the lessons that were taught off the field by their parents as much as the lessons that were taught on the field!

May they remember the encouraging words that were shared with them during this season of their lives…positive reinforcement that flowed easily from their parents as they strived to be a Godly example to them!

Dear Heavenly Father…help us to remember that our little ones are watching us…often modeling the behaviors that we exhibit!  Help us to be mindful of that…desiring to be a Godly role model to them…in all seasons of their lives!