about a skinny young boy who loved football with all his heart.

Practice after practice, he eagerly gave everything he had.   But being

half the size of the other boys, he got absolutely nowhere.   At all the

games, this hopeful athlete sat on the bench and hardly ever played.

This teenager lived alone with his father, and the two of them had a

very special relationship. Even though the son was always on 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.   He 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 nor a game but

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.Ê 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 a game.  It was the end

of his senior football season, and as he trotted onto the practice

field shortly before the big playoff 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 never heard.  Finally, after the stands emptied and

the team had showered and left the locker room, the coach noticed that

this 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!"

Like the athlete's father, God is always there cheering for us.   He's

always reminding us to go on.  He's even offering us His hand for.  He

knows what is best, and is willing to give us what we need and not

simply what we want.  God has never missed a single game.   What a joy

to know that life is meaningful if lived for the Highest.   Live for HIM