On Friday I went to Thomas' last baseball game. His coach named him the MVP of the game. I have talked about his athletic prowess here before, but he continues to amaze me with the progress he makes each and every week. I have no baseball skills and so everything he has he got through his Mum's genes, and he is already hitting pitches that would blow by me. I am not sure there is anything sporty that he can't do...
Maggie though gets the award for completely boggling my mind. Back in the spring her two best friends quit swimming. This left her depressed and wanting to quit. Tracy and I committed to trying to keep her going as long as possible and made her keep swimming through her March meet. I had words with her coach. We both prayed but at least to this Dad it seemed like it was over. There was no way my daughter wold persevere.
Her coach tweaked how he related to her. She realized that she would need to keep swimming if she had any chance of playing water polo in Middle school and high school. She set some goals and decided it wasn't that bad. She'd keep going.
Every chance I got I'd tell her how proud of her I was. I tried to up my attendance at her swim practices to encourage her. I really was simply proud that she persevered, found a goal and swam for herself rather than her friends or her folks.
Then God, in his beautiful wonderful way stepped up. At her swim meet this last weekend at the MAC shed swam in the 10 and under in the 50 meter free. She won her heat and took 9 seconds off her time.
In the breast and the back she swam in the 12 and under category. She took 3rd and fourth respectively but took 18 and 16 seconds off her times. All her hard work; all her perseverance, and God's grace came together in those magical moments. He chose to honour my daughter for her faithfulness -- for that is what she demonstrated, and she was completely and totally delighted at His goodness. What a gift.
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