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An Athlete's View on Suffering (SMA Syndrome)

It is absolutely amazing just how much sports and the motives they bring about can relate to how we should respond during trials in our lives! I am a major softball fan along with the dream of someday giving volleyball a try. Athletics have strengthened me in many ways and contributed into who I am today. My prayer is this:

Help me to play the game, dear Lord, with all my might and main;
Grant me the courage born of right, a heart to stand the strain…

Send me a sense of humor, Lord, to laugh when victory’s mine;
To laugh, if I should meet defeat, without a fret or whine…

Give me the grace to follow rules, to ‘fess up when I’m wrong,
When silence or some other thing wins plaudits from the throng…

When foes are tough and fighting fierce and I am getting weak,
Dear God, don’t ever let me show a broad, bright, yellow streak.

And teach me, Lord, life’s game to play just one day at a time.
With Thee as coach and trainer, Lord, real victory must be mine.



The Relation Between the Love of the Game & The Trials I Face (SMA Syndrome)

--Never, ever give up!
In softball, no matter the score or situation, giving up is never an option. As we all say, "Play Hard or Go Home!" That is the same in times of struggle as well. When it seems as if my world is falling apart and the storm is raging, remembering this tactic that was taught repeatedly to me in Softball will be a great weapon to defeat discouragement. In sports, you play the whole game and give it all your heart, but if you let one little setback (like a grandslam by the other team) cause you to resist to rise back up, you will never come through with the victory. During struggles of any kind, in my case health, we must remember that with perserverence and faith, if we really long for the victory, we can and will come out on top.

--Take it play by play...
From 13 years of experience, I've had this speech drilled into my head several times! In the game, there is no room on the diamond for anxiety or worry...the focus should be on that very moment, pitch, and play. You can't make the out if your mind is off thinking about what the next inning may bring. To pull out the wins to make it to the Championship game, as an athlete, you have gotta focus on the game your in at that very minute and give that play 110%. Likewise, in this battle I am in with SMA Syndrome, I need to set my thoughts on making the best of each moment and take little steps day by day. God will indeed grant the grace to overcome whatever might be thrown at me in the future, but until then He has prepared me for this very day, hour, and minute. Tomorrow will take care of itself when it arrives.
"Don't worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God." Philippians 4:6

--Use the coach's encouragement as motivation.
I can't play softball right now, so no I do not have a coach to motivate me. But, I do have family, friends, and counselors cheering for me on the sidelines. Also, my brother's baseball coach is a major encouragement for me and I look up to him. Just as when the times get tough during the ball game, in times of struggle, never doubt that you have a team standing behind you. Keep the coach's words in mind, and keep playing hard! *Remember the coach usually has a pretty good game plan and if you think about it, God is the #1 coach in all we do...so how could we lose?

--Sometimes you've gotta get down & dirty
Alright so the ball is hit and in just a matter of moments you are in the position to be thrown out...what do you do? Well, the couch will probably yell for you to get under the tag and slide. Out of obedience and instinct, for the sake of an out, you have to dive full speed to the base, and it is worth it when you hear the umpire scream safe! I assure you. Just as in that scenario, while battling illnesses, trials, and struggles, we must not only obey and trust God, we must also be willing to do anything and everything it takes to bring Him glory. Hard times will undoubtebly sneak into our lives, but we have to give it our all to overcome each obstacle! With perserverence and faith we can reach the next base of our life unharmed.

--Sit back and wait on it
Okay, so your up to bat and as you stand at the plate in a ready position the pitcher decides to throw a change up. A bit of a trick, it is your responsibility to realize the change and sit back and wait on the pitch to arrive. Instead of swinging right away with an inevitable miss, if you simply wait on the correct timing you can avoid a strike out. The same thing applies to life. Struggles are going to creep in no matter what, but instead of panic and fear, we should relax and let God take control.










1 comment:

  1. Wow-you have a great ability to compare this to your softball experience. I look forward to reading more from you.

    ReplyDelete