Humility in Victory

Yesterday was the Super Bowl and we were invited to a friend's house along with a small crowd (all of which were Cardinal fans). We had chosen to be Steeler fans having seen an interview of a Steeler player and hearing about his Christian beliefs (and the fact that our oldest son likes playing his video game as that team).

As those who watched know, it was a good game where the Steelers were winning most of the time. The kids were cheering their teams and arguing the calls and doing typical kids stuff.

Midway through the 4th quarter, I noticed our oldest son was still in the side room watching the game as the rest of the crew was in the main room watching. I also noticed that this was the same time when the Cardinals were rolling and took the lead, so i went to see what was up. He was visually upset (which was partly due to lack of sleep the night before), but i asked him what was up. He didn't want to say. I asked him if the other kids celebrating their team's success was upsetting him. He said "yes, they were in my face cheering and pointing." I asked him how that made him feel. The answer was obvious. So I took some time to talk to him about victory and defeat and celebrating and such. (Truthfully the kids were just being kids and having fun there was no ill will or intent). He felt better and he and I watched the next several minutes in the side room by ourselves.

Then the tide started to turn back toward the Steelers and they looked to be maching toward a victory. That's when I said, you know if they score and win, you can't go running in there and be cheering and pointing and such, to which he said, "Why not?" So after ANOTHER talk about victory and defeat and celebrating, he DID finally understand.

My point is only this: Keep an eye out for teachable moments, they present themselves everyday in a wide variety of ways. Don't get caught up in the surface of life and forget the importance of life. And it may not "take" the first time, have patience and trust that the Lord is working with you.