Well, well, soccer season is in full swing! Gabe has played for a few years and every year he has played the position of goalie. He has gotten fairly good at it if I say so myself. However, this year, his coach has decided to play him at forward. Now, to me I don't understand all the positions. Once you use another word other than goalie I'm like the Aflac duck saying "Ehhhh!" But, basically the forward's job is to be a ball handler. To kick the ball to the opponent's side of the field so that our team can hopefully score a goal!
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Last night we had a game. Gabe gets on the field, starts stretching with his team and before long the referee blows the whistle and I watch as Gabe walks down and lines up to play defense. The first half started and he continued to play defense and as I sat and watched I could see his body beginning to build with frustration. Gabe is a very, VERY competitive person and as the half rolled on we began to lose!
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Half time rolled around and I walked down to the fence, called him over to me and asked why he was playing defense. "I have NO clue!" he said gritting his teeth. I tried to calm him down and explain that it is what it is and encouraged him to try his hardest and play the best he can to which he yelled back "But, defense is NOT my position!" I stood there for just a moment to breathe so that I didn't go all crazy Momma on him for yelling at me and I simply replied "Just play your best, we'll discuss it later" and I walked back to my seat.
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The second half started and Gabe was playing defense again. As the game wore on his frustration level just got higher and higher. He was stomping his feet, spitting constantly and at one point he threw his arms up in the air as if he was saying "You've got to be kidding me!" We lost the game 4-1 and it took everything I had to contain Gabe until we could get into the truck. As he walked ahead of me breathing like a raging bull I all but ran behind him whispering "Hold it in until we make it to the truck!"
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Upon entering the truck he let loose. He fussed and carried on and explained his take on the game. The more I tried to be understanding the worse it got. I finally surrendered and waved my little white flag. I shut my mouth and just let him go. Once he was finished I simply said "Son, I'm sorry, but sometimes you just gotta play what you're told to play and play it to the best of your ability." Still angry he didn't like my comment so we rode home in silence the remainder of the way.
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You know, we as Christians do this all the time. We don't want to work in the nursery because it's not our thing or we don't want to teach Sunday School because it's not our thing or we don't want to lead the music, sing in the choir, go to visitation, etc. because after all...it's not our thing. So, what is your thing? Exactly what is the "position" that God gave you? 1 John 2:17 says "This world is fading away, along with everything it craves. But if you do the will of God, you will live forever." (NLT). Maybe the "position" that you think so fondly of is no longer the "position" that God wants you to play. It is time that we as Christians stop setting boundaries for ourselves and just allow the will of God to be done. It is time that we step outside of our comfort zones. It is time that we fully and wholly submit to the will of God.
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