Especially in the area of sports.
But God provides, sometimes in ways I don't expect, but I can certainly glory in.
Alex's second soccer season, he had a coach named Scott who had a daughter a bit younger than Alex on the team. He was a great coach--nice, good with the kids, the right amount of praising them and driving them.
We were blessed when two seasons later, Matthew had the same coach.
Right after that season, Keith died.
I called one of the moms on the team to tell her. Keith had been sick and in the hospital during part of the season, so they were somewhat in touch with what was going on. This mom took it upon herself to call the whole team.
Imagine my surprise when, right with the family, Scott walked into the funeral home for the viewing. I was gratified that he chose to come and express his sympathy, but what he did next quite literally floored me.
He sat down, prepared to stay the whole length of the viewing, and talked sports with my big boys. Just talked.
Since then, this family, mostly Scott, has become a part of our lives, showing up just when my boys need them.
The next spring, Scott showed up between his kids' games to watch Alex play. Matthew, wanting to get his attention, went over and started talking to him. Then another adult came to talk to Scott. Scott had the conversation with the adult, but kept him arm around Matthew for like twenty minutes. Matthew gloried in the male attention. I thanked God for His provision (and asked Him when he was going to fill that dad spot, but that is another story).
Later that same season, Matthew scored his first goal. I was in the car with the little ones at the time, avoiding a drizzle. Alex ran back to the car to tell me Matthew had scored, and I was bummed that I had missed it. Once again, however, God provided. Scott happened to be again between games and saw it and was able to whoop and holler for him.
Fast forward a few seasons until Jackson starts playing soccer. We were blessed once again to have Scott be our coach. More time for him to speak into my kids' lives.
Jackson did not score his first goal that season, but when he did a season later, it was against the team Scott was coaching, and even though he was the opposing coach, Scott hugged my son and told him what a great job he did. He also witnessed Jackson's second goal (again, I missed it, being on the field with another son--story of my life).
(I have told Scott several times that I wish they had four kids so that there could be one Tanner's age that he could coach as well.)
Do you notice a theme here? God providing through a precious family, a precious man, who just loves on my kids when he gets a chance. He takes the opportunity when it is presented to him, and God has used that mightily to comfort my boys, to strengthen them, to fill in part of that missing "dad" piece.
Here is the part that amazes me. This is not a believing family. (My boys here want me to say...NOT YET!) God is using someone who is not even on board with His general plan to speak so mightily into the lives of my boys.
Provision, my friends, provision!
The LORD remembers us and will bless us - Psalm 115:12a
No comments:
Post a Comment