Just How Good Do You Have to Be?

We have all been raised in a world that views success as performance based. “Win it all or nothing”. You have to be really good to even compete for a place at the table. If you mess up in any way shape or form, you are out of the game.

I am remembering a time when one of my boys was asked to be on an “all-star soccer team”. You had to be pretty good at your skills to be chosen.

Their first game rolled around, and my son was beyond excited. Well, everyone was worked into the game that day, except for my boy. After the game was over, I asked the coach why (thinking my son must’ve done something wrong that I needed to address). What the coach said was, “I had to play the best against this particular team”. I pointed to my young and impressionable boy (who was trying to hide his tears), and asked him, “Is that what I am supposed to tell him on the ride home?” I’m supposed to say, “You weren’t ‘good’ enough to play?”

What I had witnessed was no compassion for anyone, just the win and a disregard for others. In my mind, as his mom, I wanted to say so many things. But, instead, I walked away and loved on my boy. He was what mattered to me. It was a teachable moment of how things don’t always turn out the way you expect, but you are still a part of the team. You will be back the next game and whether you play or not, you show them that you are more than just a game.

In the parable of the prodigal son, we see a dad who didn’t base his reaction to his boy on how good he was, but on his love for him. The son was ready to take on whatever was meted out but instead saw his father running up the road with open arms. The dad was filled with compassion. He hugged him and then they partied.

I am so thankful that when I accepted the opportunity to be on God’s team, I didn’t have to outkick anyone or be “the best” at anything. It wasn’t based on how good I was, but on how good my Heavenly Father is. There was never a question of just how good I have to be to be loved. My acceptance was based on His goodness and love for me. He doesn’t want anyone to miss out on the game or the party.

Luke 15:20,24 NLT

[20] "So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. [24] for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.' So the party began. #paulaandthebible #helpforyourdailywalk