I was able to share this story on Sunday in Church. I have had the opportunity to tell it several times this week and it never loses its impact when I tell it. I watched a friend get goose bumps yesterday when I shared.....
Last Wed. night Andrew came in from playing outside and he announces to me that he was invited to come out and take the early bus to school and try out for the 5th grade relay team. Proudly I responded, “Hey, your gym teacher must think your pretty fast!” Andrew scrunches up his face and he kind of looks like the Grinch, “Dad, there are lots of boys faster than me in school.” That response really caught my attention.
One of Andrew's nicknames is Mr. Happy. Yes, maybe one of your children is like that, but he always finds an occasion or reason to not be happy. Low self esteem? I don't know. I have been carefully and not so carefully battling this issue his whole life. The Battle is won...small breakouts or coupes surface once in awhile.
Well, I take Andrew aside and I share with him two things. First I told him about my 5th grade experience and running the 600 yd dash. I was a non entity. A skinny little nobody. It was field day and I was sick with allergies very similar to now. But when that gun went off I ran...and ran. I took the head of the pack and never looked back and made sure nobody ever passed me. Our class ended up winning field day, I took first place in the 600 yd dash, and we had a pizza party as a reward. Now my winning that event was just a contribution...but I tried...and I managed to win.
Secondly I told Andrew, and more important, that God makes us all special and unique. Of course he was special and unique. When he was 13 months old...nobody could catch him. Not I, Grandma, or any nurse that was helping to watch his Mother. He was fast. (Andrew had a smile on his face by this time!) “Andrew, tomorrow when you get to the starting line to try out for this team, pray to God.” That was my best advice. :)
The next day...admittedly like all Father's do...I forgot all about our conversation. I was pretty sick on the couch that afternoon and Andrew bursts through, "Hey Dad!, What is your favorite scripture verse?" At this point I had been ill for a good point of the day.....I really wasn't thinking....I had no response. "Dad, do you know what mine is? ... Mark 10:27 With God, all things are possible. I prayed that at the starting line today....and guess what? I MADE THE RELAY TEAM!" Tears came to my eyes.
I only told my son to pray. I never mentioned pray scripture. He had matured before my eyes. He had become a much better MAN than me. At this point I was floored, happy and overjoyed. Andrew continued, "Dad, the relays are Saturday at 8am. at Toms River North"
Friday night I took Andrew our for running shoes. God blessed us with a terrific deal and he marveled at how light they were. His whole life he only wore Vans and Basketball shoes. Running shoes were a new experience.
Saturday we get to Toms River North early. Nicholas, my oldest, had actually run the same relay when he was in sixth grade. There are 17 elementary schools in Toms River. There were 37 maybe more, 5th grade relay teams entered. Citta Elementary, Andrews school, only came with two sixth grade and two 5rh grade teams. They only got together two days before Saturday. Some of these other relay teams had obviously been together for awhile. They had coordinated shirts and club wear etc. I kissed Andrew and encouraged him to keep praying his scripture.
Both 5th and 6th grades were only running the 4x100 and 4x200 relays. Andrew was the second link in both relays. He was on the Citta A team in the 100 and the C team in the 200. It was actually a lot of fun to watch. In Andrew's race I was so busy taking pictures I could not really watch him. There was a friend of mine from work that was there to watch her son and she was shaking my arm screaming, “My God! your son is so fast!“ I took pictures the whole morning and was very proud when Andrew's team won their heat in the 100! In the 200 in their heat they lost by half a step....
At the end when the times were being read off I was very surprised to find out they placed second in the 4x200! That was great. Then they started reading the finishing for the 4x100. They read from 6th place down.... I felt bad for Andrew when they got to first place and by that time had not said their name...but then.... “Finishing first...with a time of One minute and One second.....Citta Elementary A Team”. Guess what. Yeah. I cried.
My son turned to God and asked...and God answered...in a mighty and powerful way. A lesson for all of us.
