It is Springtime which brings about all the fun of softball season for our household – nights spent under the lights, dinners on the go, lawn chairs and concession stand snacks. Our lives get lled with all the things that go into recreational sports in a quaint small town. Our daughter enjoys sports and it is a choice we allow her to make each season – one she whole heartly commits to once she laces up her cleats or ties her sneakers. I was reminded recently though, now that she is getting older, the importance of teaching our children through these seasons in life the valuable lessons of humility, humbleness and character building. “ Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6.

I will never forget sitting in a parent teacher conference in her 1stgrade year and her teacher (whom we love) telling me that our daughter was a “me rst” student. I had no idea what meant and as I began to question that term I had never heard, I begin to feel my heart grow heavy. She explained that often times our daughter made it a point to rush through her work or race to the front of the line so that she would be the rst one done or the rst one to lead the class. I must say, from the womb, a specic prayer I prayed over her everyday was that God would create a erce leader who never followed the crowd. What I was discovering was that being a leader is a gift from God but having to be the best or rst is a psychological tactic that could be detrimental if I allowed the enemy to continue his path. Have you ever been guilty of pushing too hard, rushing to anger when perfection was not achieved or found yourself jealous of another person ahead in life? I would like to sow a seed of encouragement to you, Mama to Mama – perfection is overrated. Don’t press the damaging narrative on your children that winning is everything or the old saying of “if you aren’t rst, you are last”. Those words stick and have a powerful impact on the mind of a young soul that the enemy already seeks to devour each day.

Your child may be “the best” on the team, but don’t allow them to walk in arrogance. Don’t allow them to look down on other’s mishaps or mistakes. Don’t allow them to ignore the beauty of the game for the sake of a moment in the spotlight. I would much rather know that my daughter sits on the bench and encourages her team from afar than to grow up believing perfection is what denes her identity in Christ. Raise a son or daughter that notices a teammates parent hasn’t shown up for the 3rd game in a row, raise a child that recognizes when others are having a hard time – raise a child that cheers for the successes of others knowing their light never diminishes just because someone else’s shines brighter for a moment.

I encourage you to go back and read Proverbs 22:6 again with eyes wide open to the truth that how you raise a child to believe (negative or positive) will determine their future. There are no scouts waiting to recruit your eight-year-old at these small-town diamonds – take a breath and enjoy this beautiful time in the life of your baby. A time that can be lled with fun memories or in some cases, harmful ideologies that go against what the Word of God says about the very soul you have been entrusted to train up. I offer a heartfelt suggestion as you watch a piece of you step up to the plate – soak it in. I have been guilty myself for putting unnecessary pressure on my children, but that is a conversation I had to rectify with my Savior. Never allow this “me rst” generation to warp the mind of the souls that Jesus has chosen to lead us to the Promise Land lled with love, humility and humbleness. There is enough screaming happening from outside forces – your encouraging sideline stance into the life of your child should be all they hear when God calls them to the plate. Their best is always good enough for our Father – win or lose, strike out or homerun.

“So the last shall be rst, and the rst last: for many be called, but few chosen.” Matthew 20:16.

Blessings, Kayla