It was dark, cold, and wet, but the soccer game was still on. I had hoped they would cancel it, but regardless, I was out there with my coat and gloves to support my daughter under the glare of the massive field lights.
She was fierce on the field, running fast and blocking passes. The other team was up by a few points, and by halftime, things didn’t look good for us. But, she didn’t relent, and with the help of her teammates, helped to tie the score. We took that as a victory and cheered emphatically as the final whistle blew.
One thing I’ve learned about being a soccer mom is to encourage my child, regardless of the outcome. So, post-game conversations in the car typically include questions like, “Did you have fun?” or “Did you do your best?” instead of finding faults or making critical comments.
So, this particular night, as we slowly made our way back to the car, I asked her, “Well, how do you think you did?”
“Good!”
Then, she said, “I wanted to run fast because I knew you were watching me.”
That surprised me because she may have looked at me once the entire hour since she was so focused on the ball.
It took me a moment to realize that she really cared! She cared that Mama was there, she cared enough to want to run fast enough, and she cared enough to want to make me proud. All of that mattered, and I didn’t even realize it.
Recently, our pastor shared about the ministry of “showing up”. Have you ever had a difficult season and there were special people in your life that just showed up? Maybe they didn’t say much or have any earth-shattering advice…but they were there?
I’ve been there. When I was in labor, and we needed help my older children, our sweet friends showed up. When my husband had a fall and needed to be hospitalized, my sister and friends showed up, food in hand. Their presence brought comfort.
One of the most beloved stories Jesus told was the parable of the Good Samaritan found in Luke 10. A man is robbed and left to die. Three people show up, but only the last one stops to help. In other words, he “shows up”, provides first aid, travel arrangements on his donkey, and a place to sleep.
What a testimony this young man had after leaving the inn!
While I didn’t think my presence meant much to my daughter, in reality, it made all the difference to her. She wanted to take her performance to another level.
Your presence is powerful. Is someone waiting for you to “show up”? It can be a quick visit to a hurting friend, a school event for your child, or a lunch meeting with your spouse. The smallest gesture can make a lasting impact on someone’s life, and you will become an integral part of their story…just because you were there.
~Betsy
http://waf-current.local/show-up/
*photo credit: Hal Gatewood on unsplash.com
