Choices

Jeffrey has always loved ball games, even before he was old enough to play. When he was about 3, he had an AirBud video where the dog played football, that he watched over and over. He slept with a football for some time and has always been able to organize a game in the backyard with the neighborhood kids. Where there is no one around to play with, I hear the constant thump of a tennis ball against the house.
For the past several years, Jeffrey has played catcher on his baseball teams. We even did some playing on a travel ball team. His coach, Jamie, called him “the wall” because he didn’t let too much get by him. Actually, I never knew how important the catcher was until that first travel ball game. Man, if the catcher lets it get by, the other team is stealing bases and sliding home. Catcher is an important position.
This year, Jeffrey made All-Star Catcher and last night when we got home from VBS, his coach called and said practice starts today and it will be every Monday through Friday, 5:30-8:00 from now on. I told him about VBS this week and about Childrens’ Camp next week and of course, that was too many practices to miss. He was very disappointed; I could hear it in his voice, but congratulated Jeffrey for earning a spot on the team.
When we hung up, I told Jeffrey he could choose not to go to VBS or camp, but he said no, he wanted to do those things more. Pretty soon he got up from the den and walked to his room. I knew he went to cry and I don’t blame him. I would have cried too. Have to choose between two things you love and know you won’t get to do both is never easy.
In a few minutes I made my way to his room and sure enough, he was covered up in his bed, crying. “Mom, I made the All-Star team and now I can’t be on it. I won’t ever get to be on it, not next year or the year after that because this will always happen. I want to do both, Mom. I don’t want to choose.” And it broke my heart to hear him cry.
“Well,” I said, “I can call the coach back. You can choose baseball and not go to VBS or to camp. I’m sure I can get my money back.”
“No, I want to go to camp. I don’t want to miss that,” he sobbed.
Jeff came in with some fatherly advice. “Flip a coin. That’s what I would do.” (And really, that is what he would do.) Jeffrey looked at me like his daddy was crazy because deciding wasn’t the issue. The decision was made and Jeffrey was firm in his decision. The problem was how badly it hurt to sacrifice something he loved very much.
Oh, it broke my heart and thrilled me, all at the same time, to watch him make that decision. How many children would give up a well earned spot on an All-Star team and the right to brag about that in order to go to church every day for two weeks. Not many. And while I sit here and cry about him not being able to do both, I’m thrilled that he made a decision for Christ, that he chose Jesus over the things of this world and the pride that goes with prestige.
I told Jeffrey that God would honor his decision. God knows this was a sacrifice and that he laid it on the altar without hesitation, even though it hurt. God will bless his decision. I told Jeffrey,
“Give and it will be given to you, a good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over will be poured into your lap; for with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” (Luke 6:38)
God is good. We can never out-give him and I can’t wait to see how he will bless my Jeffrey, my little Christian soldier, for giving up something so very important to him. I just can’t wait.
Later last night, when all the sobs were gone and the tears were dried up, Jeffrey came to me and said, “You know Mom, its okay. I’m glad about my decision. It was the right thing to do.” (Big sigh from him after this statement.)
And, it is. Praise the LORD! It is!