Several months ago there was a high school basketball game where a young boy played the game with real heart.

His teammates were rallying around him and supporting him as they continued over-and-over to pass him the ball. They knew he needed to dominate and channel his emotions as he went up and down that court. Basket after basket he made. Point after point he scored. He-was-unstoppable!

He played the game with real heart.

I know about this game because I was there!

I know about this boy because…he is my son.

The date was January 16, 2015. The day our girl took her last breath. 

Life certainly isn’t a game, yet I found myself asking “what if we ‘played’ life with real heart”? The same drive, the same passion, the same ‘unstoppable’ attitude and determination that my son displayed this day.

Our lives somewhat resembles a game because we are always seeking out that win. Seeking out our Savior because of the perfect end result He offers….our eternity in Heaven. The ultimate ‘win’, the ultimate gift!

Life is a constant winding, twisting journey. A journey that we have to keep practicing because there will always be an obstacle we have to overcome and a mountain to climb. Every move, every action requires us to be mindful. It requires us to walk in faith and that often takes practice. Each prayer, each whisper, each surrender….all keep us grounded in our walk with our Father.

This journey of life…it also requires us to keep defending and warding off our opponent! He is certain to try and swoop in and shake our confidence and shatter our faith! Wanting nothing more than to see us fail and trip us up.

And then, there are times throughout life when we will stand alone at the free throw line feeling lost, battered and broken…unsure if we have the strength to take the shot? Unsure if we will make it because the opponent is right there telling us we can’t and won’t. Unsure if the pressures of this world that rest and way heavy on our shoulders will give way as they press down hard on us.

But there in the midst of it all, in the midst of our game, Our Savior, our Team Captain, fills us with His love and gives us courage and strength.  He offers us grace when we stumble and fall. All the while He is right here breathing life into us and holding us ever-so-gently in His care.  All of us! Each and every one of us…no matter what position we play in this ‘game of life’.

So I’ll keep aiming for the basket. Keep pressing forward as I defend my opponent and dribble my-way-through-life.

I’ll keep going.

I’ll keep striving.

I’ll keep persevering.

I’ll dig deeper when I feel weak and tired and give it my all. Holding onto the everlasting hope He offers because I know it’s the anchor to my soul.  Pressing forward knowing it’s how I ‘play’ that will make the difference. I’ll play with heart knowing my victory awaits.

It was shortly after our sweet girls’ passing, with our family and dear friends still gathered at our home, that my athletic one announced he still wanted to attend his game. Without hesitation we agreed knowing he needed to channel his sadness through this game. So, dressed in our pink camouflage shirts in support of our girl, we filled the gymnasium with rows and rows of  love! Rows and rows of those we hold dear as they held us as we wept from brokenness.

Cheers and shouts could be heard all around for my boy. Soon it felt as if all eyes were on him while he lit up that court! Feelings of excitement and sadness and deep despair all rolled into one. The cheers grew louder and his name became a constant echo.

An echo of courage.

An echo of strength.

An echo of determination.

An echo of love.

An echo of hope.

Basket after basket, point after point. He played with real heart. And then with just a few minutes left in the game he finally took his seat on the bench.

Physically exhausted.

Mentally drained.

Emotionally shattered.

My athletic one had nothing left to offer in this game because he had given it his all out on that court. He gently bowed his head and wept. “This one was for you sis. This one was for you.”

I learned a lot about life this day.  Not only how so very precious it is and how quickly it can fade, but also how important it is to play with heart. How important it is to keep going when the opponent surrounds me as I ‘defend’ my game. And to keep going when I’d sometimes rather just throw in the towel.  To keep going when I’m not sure I have the strength.

Even if it means I may stand alone.

Even if it means I’m tired and broken and weak.

Even if it means tomorrow will be another game, the same as today…and I have to do it all again.

Because knowing it’s how I ‘play’ that matters.  Knowing that God simply wants me to play with determination and strength and for all the joy in this life He has given me. He wants me to play with heart.

My Savior, My Team Captain, already paid price. He already fought the fight and won the game. My victory awaits! My job is to rally up my team and play with heart.

Doesn’t matter what the scoreboards displays. Doesn’t matter how far we make it in this life. Our victory is in Heaven! God simply asks that we ‘play’ this life with heart. Keep practicing and keep walking in faith.

Praying you will let God be your Team Captain!