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New season, new start, new chance |
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Written by JEFF MIELCAREK, Director of CYO Athletics
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Saturday, 26 September 2009 05:00 |
Have you ever stopped to think about how many new chances life affords us? Growing up we get to start a new school year each September (August these days). In the Catholic Church each Lenten season affords us a new opportunity to prepare to walk on the journey with Jesus. Each athletic season also offers us new chances.
What happened last year is over and done. The wins, the losses, the great plays, the tears, the bad calls are all in the past and are now memories. Hopefully, many great memories, but the new athletic year affords us another chance to make a difference in the life of a youth.
We adults can make a positive difference in the life of a youth through our words, our actions and our overall support of the effort that they put forth in athletic events. The athletic “classroom” is a great place for youth to learn many valuable lessons if we, as adults, take the time to make sure that they are taught and reinforced.
Adults all have the opportunity to be a “Minister to Youth” whether it be as a coach, a supporter (parents, grandparents, friends) or even a referee. We continue to be given opportunities to make a positive difference in the life of the youth who surround us.
In today’s world, being a youth can be looked at as easier than when many of us were growing up. But in so many other ways, life today is much tougher on our youth. There is a higher rate of single parent families, there is more outside pressure to succeed and more parents worry about how good their child will be in high school or even college that they miss out on what’s most important — what is happening now.
Today’s youth need us in their lives to both support and challenge them. When things go well, they need us to keep them grounded. When things don’t go so well, they need us there to pick them up and continue to encourage them. When they don’t win because of what they feel was a bad call, they need us there to tell them that life may not always be fair. Above all else, they need to know that no matter how they perform, we will always be there to love them and help them as they grow.
A pat on the back to say, “I’m proud of how hard you tried,” or a phone call to say, “Hang in there, keep working hard,” goes a long way with youth to whom we are ministering.
Hopefully, we all use this new season and new chance to positively “minister to the youth” that God has entrusted in our care.
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Last Updated on Monday, 15 February 2010 17:07 |
