He Made an Unlikely Shift

Shhh!! I’m headed back to Austin. I'm surprising Bryson on his 14th birthday. I know I talk about the youngest the most. After all, he’s my youngest. I’m certain he’s the last. I wouldn’t have gone to Austin last week, were it not for his last football game of the year. I just couldn’t miss it. Except for front yard play, he never wanted to play football until this year (8th grade). I touted the things he did (and does well) – caring for his many animals, his rock wall climbing, his sweet nature and on and on. Bryson's preference was to be home-schooled for the last four years. It served him well. But this year, that smaller-in-stature, mild-mannered, non-aggressive boy, suddenly made an unlikely shift. He shot up with height, self-confidence, and motivated to go to public school AND play football. I was thrilled to see him play last week. Our quiet, unassuming teenager was being fist-bumped, arms around-his-shoulders by new friends and teammates and is a force to be reckoned with playing the game. This is the guy who was always in the wings cheering on his big brothers, but now, with confidence, he’s being cheered on! I share this story because maybe you have someone in your realm of influence that isn’t the outgoing type. Maybe they are everyone else’s cheerleader. Maybe they prefer the backstage instead of the stage. Maybe they are incredibly happy being the animal-tender instead of the animal rider. Maybe they are happy with studying alone instead of in a group. And maybe all that’s okay! They are in their zone and are content there. But wait just a minute! What if the quiet ones really want to step out and are just waiting for someone to encourage them out of their comfort zone – out of their standing-in-the-shadows zone? What if you are the one desiring to step up and stand-out? It was a surprise when Bryson stepped out. It took confidence in himself that had been spoken into him for many years by his family. The simplest things we say, which, though seemingly ordinary, carry an immense weight in telling our children they are loved, cared for, valued AND that they can do and be anything they want to if they apply themselves and go for whatever it is they want to do. Besides speaking into our children, I’m also speaking about those in our sphere of influence who need to hear words of affirmation and approval that specifically speak love and encouragement; that invoke hope and self-confidence; words that answer pain and disappointment with support and faith. May we be light and life to our family and our world today. Every time we step out in faith and resist fear, we grow stronger, and experience more exhilarating times. God is looking for believers who are so in love with Him, that risk doesn’t scare them. Or, if it scares them, they go ahead anyway! Whatever God is nudging you to do in faith, I promise you He is there with you. It might require you to live by faith and not by sight. It might test you and frighten you, but that’s where the blessing is, where the life of abundance is. Don’t miss it. “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7 Happy Birthday, my champion -- Bryson! Love you so much!