Monday, January 24, 2011

The Cheering Section

At my daughter's recent basketball game, the star was playing with a 102 degree fever, the center had been feeling sick all day, and for whatever reason, Michelle was a bit sluggish.

I noticed she was running slower than usual, and her reactions were a bit delayed, but it still bothered me when a man a few rows down started yelling “Michelle!! Get the lead out!” I wondered who this man was and what made him think he could yell at my daughter.

And that wasn’t the only thing he said. He had other corrections for her as well. She should have gotten the rebound, she should have stolen the ball, her passing should have been better, etc., etc. I noticed Michelle glancing up at him while she played and I grew irritated with his yelling.

Then I noticed something else. He wasn’t the only one yelling at her. There were others who would yell, “Good job, Michelle!” when she scored. There was a group of men at the top of the bleachers yelling to the ref to watch the throwing elbows of the girl guarding my daughter, and there were those who would yell, “Nice try, Michelle!” when she would attempt to steal the ball and fail, or shoot a free throw and miss.

I realized that with just a few exceptions, I didn’t know any of these people.

It struck me how people I didn’t even know were cheering for Michelle by name, offering suggestions on how to improve, and buoying her up when she failed. I began to think about all the school teachers she has had, all the coaches, friends, and church leaders who have cheered her along from the bleachers of her life, and I wondered how many others there were who I had never known.

And my heart swelled with gratitude for their love and concern.

Then, in my mind, I saw numberless people beyond the veil, watching, prodding, and cheering. I could hear them say, “Come on Michelle, get the lead out!”, “You can do it, Michelle”, and “Good job! That’s the way!”

And tears welled up in my eyes.

How grateful I am to know that through out the day, there are many people, some I know, and many I don’t, some on this side of the veil, and some on the other, who want to see my daughter succeed and are cheering her on.

How grateful I am for cheering sections!

11 comments:

MissKris said...

Cute. I love this post. I'm grateful for my cheering sections too :)

CB said...

This is so well put and so true!! We are so blessed to have cheering sections for us and our kids and to be cheering sections for others!

Woot Woot!!

- As far as the wedding goes I didn't blog about what I had done yet because I am still gathering ideas.

Rebecca Irvine said...

What a wonderful thought. I hope i remember this next time I get frustrated and feel no one is rooting for me. Thanks for uplifting me tonight.

Julie said...

Why did I get all teary reading this? Love it. Love the reminder that we all have a cheering section--bigger than we think.

Momza said...

this deserved a "tissue warning"...
really loving. And our children so need it. Even when they're rotten teenagers. I need to remember that.
Thank you!

Unknown said...

I love knowing I have my own cheerleaders. Sometimes I just need to be reminded...thanks.

alpinekleins said...

That is a beautiful thought - I LOVE it, hope I have a personal cheering section somewhere behind me cheering me on!

Kristin

The Crazy Coxes said...

YES!

We all need cheering sections!

Susan Anderson said...

I love this thought! We all need cheering sections, don't we?

Thanks for sharing your inspiration.

=)

Da Bergs said...

Oh my goodnes, I love this post!!! Sometimes I wish we could hear the cheers from the other side! :)

Corine Moore said...

Hi... newby here... :)

This just brought tears to my eyes! That was beautifully written!

I think the same thing so many times. I don't know what I would do without the knowledge I have of our eternal family... watching over, loving, and rooting for us! It makes me happy and gives me such peace!
Corine :D