He Never Missed a Game

BobRichards, the former pole-vault champion, shares a moving story about askinny young boy who loved football with all his heart.

Practice after practice, he eagerly gave everything he had. But beinghalf the size of the other boys, he got absolutely nowhere. At all thegames, this hopeful athlete sat on the bench and hardly ever played.

This teenager lived alone with his father, and the two of them had avery special relationship. Even though the son was always On the bench,his father was always in the stands cheering. He never missed a game.This young man was still the smallest of the class when he entered highschool. But his father continued to encourage him but also made it veryclear that he did not have to play football if he didn‘t want to.

But the young man loved football and decided to hang in there He wasdetermined to try his best at every practice, and perhaps he‘d get toplay when he became a senior. All through high school he never missed apractice nor a game but remained a bench-warmer all four years. Hisfaithful father was always in the stands, always with words ofencouragement for him. When the young man went to college, he decidedto try out for the football team as a "walk-on." Everyone was sure hecould never make the cut, but he did.

The coach admitted that he kept him on the roster because he alwaysputs his heart and soul to every practice, and at the same time,provided the other members with the spirit and hustle they badlyneeded.

The news that he had survived the cut thrilled him so much that herushed to the nearest phone and called his father. His father sharedhis excitement and was sent season tickets for all the college games.This persistent young athlete never missed practice during his fouryears at college, but he never got to play in a game.

It was the end of his senior football season, and as he trotted ontothe practice field shortly before the big playoff game, the coach methim with a telegram. The young man read the telegram and he becamedeathly silent. Swallowing hard, he mumbled to the coach, "My fatherdied this morning. Is it all right if I miss practice today?" The coachput his arm gently around his shoulder and said, "Take the rest of theweek off, son. And don‘t even plan to come back to the game onSaturday."

Saturday arrived, and the game was not going well. In the thirdquarter,when the team was ten points behind, a silent young man quietlyslipped into the empty locker room and put on his football gear. As heran onto the sidelines, the coach and his players were astounded to seetheir faithful teammate back so soon. "Coach, please let me play. I‘vejust got to play today," said the young man. The coach pretended not tohear him. There was no way he wanted his worst player in this closeplayoff game. But the young man persisted, and finally feeling sorryfor the kid, the coach gave in. "All right," he said."You can go in."Before long, the coach, the players and everyone in the stands couldnot believe their eyes. This little unknown, who had never playedbefore was doing everything right. The opposing team could not stophim. He ran, he passed, blocked, and tackled like a star. His teambegan to triumph. The score was soon tied. In the closing seconds ofthe game, this kid intercepted a pass and ran all the way for thewinning touchdown. The fans broke loose. His teammates hoisted him ontotheir shoulders. Such cheering you never heard.

Finally, after the stands had emptied and the team had showered andleft the locker room, the coach noticed that this young man was sittingquietly in the corner all alone The coach came to him and said, " Kid,I can‘t believe it. You were fantastic! Tell me what got into you? Howdid you do it?"

He looked at the coach, with tears in his eyes, and said, "Well, youknew my dad died, but did you know that my dad was blind?" The youngman swallowed hard and forced a smile, "Dad came to all my games, buttoday was the first time he could see me play, and I wanted to show himI could do it!"

Like the athlete‘s father, God is always there cheering for us. He‘salways reminding us to go on. He‘s even offering us His hand for Heknows what is best, and is willing to give us what we need and notsimply what we want. GOD has never missed a single game. What a joy toknow that life is meaningful if lived for the Highest. Live for HIM forHe‘s watching us in the game of life!