Here is a special story to share with you.
A teenage boy lived alone with his father.
The two of them had a very special relationship.
Even though the son was always “warming the
bench”, his father was always in the stands cheering.
He never missed a game. This young man was still the
smallest of the class when he entered high school.
But his father continued to encourage him but also made it very clear
that he did not have to play football if he didn’t want to.
But the young man loved football and decided to hang in there.
The son was determined to try his best at every practice, and perhaps
he’d get to play when he became a senior.
All through high school he never missed a practice but
still remained a bench warmer all four years.
His faithful father was always in the stands, always with words
of encouragement for him.
When the young man went to college, he decided to try out for the
football team as a “walk-on.”
Everyone was sure he could never make the cut, but he did.
The coach admitted that he kept him on the roster
because he always puts his heart and soul to every practice and, at
the same time, provided the other members with the spirit and hustle
they badly needed.
The news that he had survived the cut thrilled him so much that he
rushed to the nearest phone and called his father.
His father shared his excitement and was sent season tickets
for all the college games.
This persistent young athlete never missed practice during his four
years at college, but he never got to play in the game.
It was the end of his senior football season, and as he trotted onto the
practice field shortly before the big play-off game, the coach met him
with a telegram.
The young man read the telegram and he became deathly silent.
Swallowing hard, he mumbled to the coach, “My father
died this morning. Is it all right if I miss practice today?”
The coach put his arm gently around his shoulder and said,
“Take the rest of the week off, son. And don’t even plan to
come back to the game on Saturday.”
Saturday arrived, and the game was not going well.
In the third quarter, when the team was ten points behind,
a silent young man quietly slipped into the empty locker room and
put on his football gear.
As he ran onto the sidelines, the coach and his players were
astounded to see their faithful teammate back so soon.
“Coach, please let me play. I’ve just got to play today,”
said the young man. The coach pretended not to hear him.
There was no way he wanted his worst player in this close playoff game.
But the young man persisted, and finally feeling sorry for the kid,
the coach gave in. “All right,” he said. “You can go in.”
Before long, the coach, the players and everyone in the stands could
not believe their eyes. This little unknown, who had never played
before was doing everything right.
The opposing team could not stop him.
He ran, he passed, blocked and tackled like a star.
His team began to triumph.
The score was soon tied.
In the closing seconds of the game, this kid intercepted a pass
and ran all the way for the winning touchdown!
The fans broke loose.
His teammates hoisted him onto their shoulders.
Such cheering you’ve never heard!
Finally, after the stands had emptied and the team had showered and
left the locker room, the coach noticed that the young man was
sitting quietly in the corner all alone.
The coach came to him and said, “Kid, I can’t believe it. You
were fantastic! Tell me what got into you? How did you do it?”
He looked at the coach, with tears in his eyes, and said, “Well, you
knew my dad died, but did you know that my dad was blind?”
The young man swallowed hard and forced a smile,
“Dad came to all my games, but today was the first time he could see me play,
and I wanted to show him I could do it!”
Having read the story, what can you learn from the above story?
He believed that his father was able to watch over him, with eyes from heaven,
and focused strongly on his game.
So, it is the power of focus and belief that helped to achieved the extraordinary for him.
Are you looking for the extraordinary to happen in your life?
Believe and focus on it!
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P.S. On another note, if you know anyone who can benefit with better vision, this could help.
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