FEATHERS
Feather pillows are Coach's favorite kind. He uses them until they are completely flat and then goes on the hunt for a new feather-filled pillow that isn't too "fat". He ferociously guards his pillow so that it doesn't become mussed up and carefully re-fluffs it after a trip through the washer and dryer. Now athletics and feathers don't seem to have much connection but a good night's sleep for this sportmom's coaching husband is dependent on a finely-arranged,feather-filled pillow. Today I want to share a story about another feather-filled pillow.
There once was a minister who served in a small mountain town. A certain townsman, who had been a leader in his congregation, began to spread un-founded and damaging gossip throughout the community about the minister. His congregation became increasingly sparse as the truthless stories were passed among them.
One day the townsman came to the minister to confess his wrongful actions. He expressed how sorry he was, how he'd asked for God's forgiveness and now he needed the minister's forgiveness too. The minister quickly forgave him.
With a thankful heart, the townsman asked what he could do to make things right. "There is one thing you can do," the minister replied and then asked the townsman to meet him the next morning at the bottom of a high hill that stood behind the village. "And be sure to bring a feather pillow!" the minister called out to the townsman as they parted ways.
They met at the appointed time and the minister began to lead the pillow-laden man up to the very top of the hill - a long and arduous climb. Reaching the pinnacle they paused to overlook the quiant little village observing it's beauty together. Then the minister asked the townsman to open up his feather pillow and shake it in the wind. As he did the feathers floated here, there, and everywhere wafting in the wind and floating far away.
Then the minister gave the townsman the challenge, "Now collect all of the feathers and put them back in the pillow."
The townsman gasped saying, "How can I can't do that? They are everywhere - it's impossible."
The wise old minister then answered the townsman's question, "You can't...and so it is when words are spoken - if true and lovely, they spread out here, there and everywhere ... to far-reaching places beyond what we will ever know. If they are not true, the same happens. Words, like feathers, once released cannot be retrieved."
So is life as a sportmom ... it requires not only a lot of game watching but an ample amount of word watching being ever aware that no word can be retrieved...a tall order for those who find ourselves BEHIND THE BENCH.
CLICK on the SPORTMOM E-votional tab above for WORD POWER.
There once was a minister who served in a small mountain town. A certain townsman, who had been a leader in his congregation, began to spread un-founded and damaging gossip throughout the community about the minister. His congregation became increasingly sparse as the truthless stories were passed among them.
One day the townsman came to the minister to confess his wrongful actions. He expressed how sorry he was, how he'd asked for God's forgiveness and now he needed the minister's forgiveness too. The minister quickly forgave him.
With a thankful heart, the townsman asked what he could do to make things right. "There is one thing you can do," the minister replied and then asked the townsman to meet him the next morning at the bottom of a high hill that stood behind the village. "And be sure to bring a feather pillow!" the minister called out to the townsman as they parted ways.
They met at the appointed time and the minister began to lead the pillow-laden man up to the very top of the hill - a long and arduous climb. Reaching the pinnacle they paused to overlook the quiant little village observing it's beauty together. Then the minister asked the townsman to open up his feather pillow and shake it in the wind. As he did the feathers floated here, there, and everywhere wafting in the wind and floating far away.
Then the minister gave the townsman the challenge, "Now collect all of the feathers and put them back in the pillow."
The townsman gasped saying, "How can I can't do that? They are everywhere - it's impossible."
The wise old minister then answered the townsman's question, "You can't...and so it is when words are spoken - if true and lovely, they spread out here, there and everywhere ... to far-reaching places beyond what we will ever know. If they are not true, the same happens. Words, like feathers, once released cannot be retrieved."
So is life as a sportmom ... it requires not only a lot of game watching but an ample amount of word watching being ever aware that no word can be retrieved...a tall order for those who find ourselves BEHIND THE BENCH.
CLICK on the SPORTMOM E-votional tab above for WORD POWER.
