The Hard Act of Love

Day 3 Doxology: I'm sorry but my greatest "doxology" moment today leaves me both picture-less and speechless.  In fact, 'm not sure I can put to words the way my heart was moved this evening after an intense Upward basketball game at the church I serve.  I'll try to explain my many thoughts!

It seems lately that everywhere you turn bad news is pounding the homes of the American family.  We have little or no unified leadership from public officials, our schools are bombarded with the constant threat of who's next, and every group wants to protest about every little thing with little consideration of anyone else.  We have become increasingly self-centered!

I read today that Washington is willing to do anything to eliminate the threat to our children through gun violence...and they should.  My thought is "will they, really?"  Will they bring prayer back to the schools?  Will they bring discipline back?  Will they encourage the family to be the family and not ask the our teachers to play mom or dad?  I digress...

Tonight, I was encourage and uplifted over a single moment in time that could possibly have the greatest impact in a young man's life than anything he learns in school.  A young man received a technical foul during the game-not the lesson.  I was told that he said something he shouldn't have.  Regardless, a technical was called and free-throws were attempted.  But, I'm getting ahead of myself.

You see..during Upward Basketball, the halftimes offer the opportunity for a small devotional.  I gave the devo for tonight's game. My devo was based on Titus 2:6-8.  It reads,  6 Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. 7 In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness8 and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.

My point was simple..we are always teaching our children something...are we teaching them that we are only to be Christ-like on Sunday mornings between 9am-12noon; that winning is everything; or that when we are mad or hurt we retaliate with so much violence that lives are changed forever?  Like Titus instructs...In everything be an example to our kids.

My long and over-due doxology for today comes is a simple hard act of love!  After the game the mom of the young man accompanied him to offer an apology to the referee that called the technical.  I didn't dilute the moment by taking a picture.  So, I included an older picture of our Upward ministry that includes adults and children bowed in prayer...led by one of the young ladies!

Upward Ministry, making a difference at the heart of the family...a mom to son!

Praise be to God!