I went for a walk around the park today and noticed a father and son playing basketball, the son was maybe 5 and cute as could be. He’s bouncing a basketball that’s bigger than his head and trying with all he’s got to shoot it toward the basket. He dribbles, dribbles, dribbles and prepares to take his shot. He gives it his best heave ho and misses the rim by 4, maybe 5 feet. Undaunted with a huge smile on his face the boy runs after the loose ball, quickly catches up to it and announces to his dad loud enough for me to hear…
“Ah, I almost made it!”
For an instant his dad and I lock eyes and smile. It was a delightful moment. Maybe, just maybe that’s how The Father sees me. Maybe that’s how I need to see me? Maybe that’s how you need to see you? As I walked on by the boy dribbled, dribbled, dribbled positioning himself for his next shot. Gotta love that little kid.
© Tom Zawacki 2008
That story is off the charts adorable. I love that in a child's eyes things are closer than they appear.
ReplyDeleteHmmm! Doing some "Striding" are we? Just think, that son and his dad are way closer in maturity than our Master and us! I have a feeling that He loves to "play ball" with us. Great thought and post. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteThere's something amazingly satisfying about setting humble goals. The Great Spirit once said that unless we become as children, we will not see the fulfillment of our Order.
ReplyDeleteBesides, I like the idea that "missing the goal by 5 feet" still gains approval in my Daddy's eyes.
That is an attitude I carry with me into fatherhood. Thanks for the reminder.
I love it! Only someone who's experienced the deep joy of watching your children play can truly understand, I think. I can remember vividly times when my son's exclamations, like this little boy's, were so wildly optimistic all I could do was smile and soak it in.
ReplyDeleteMay we all experience the wonder of playing ball with our Daddy!
Great post Tom!
ReplyDeleteTom, this really is an awsome observation. I think I have more trouble seeing me from this perspective than seeing the Father from this perspective. All to often, we fail to see things as though we almost made it and instead think we never will. Oh how I long for the return to a childlike perspective on my life!
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