Value in Losing

I thank my God every time I remember you.
-Philippians 1:3

"I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the Kingdom of God like a little child will never it." And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them.

When my son Sean was twelve, he played on a Little League baseball team. A week before the season started, I got an idea about how to show him---and his teammates---acceptance. I bought twelve coupons good for ice cream sundaes at a local restaurant, and took them to his coach.

"Coach, these are for the kids," I said. "Good," the coach said with a big smile. "This is great. I wish more dads took an interest like this. I'll take them for sundaes after our first win."

"No, Coach," I said quickly. "I want you to take them for sundaes after
their first loss."

Sean's coach looked at me strangely. What I was saying wasn't computing with
his concept of winning, losing, and rewards for good play.

This is what I shared with him:

"Coach, I don't know about you, but as I raise my kids I don't want to acknowledge their efforts as much as their being created in the image of God. I believe my son is created in the image of God and that he has infinite value, dignity, and worth which all have nothing to do with playing baseball. If he never played baseball an inning in his life, I would love and accept him just as much."

Sean's coach looked at me for a long moment. Finally, all he could muster was, "Well that's novel."

The season started and Sean's team won their first few games. But they lost their third or fourth game, and the coach was true to his word. He gave each player an ice cream sundae coupon and they all went out to "celebrate" their loss.

Sean must have thanked me at least five times for the sundaes. In addition, over the next two weeks three of the kids on his team came up and thanked me for the special treat. I recall especially a boy named Jessie, who said, "Thanks a lot for the ice cream sundaes, Mr McDowell. Wow!! it doesn't matter to you if we win or not---you love us anyway."

Nothing could have made me happier than to hear that. What I wanted to communicate is that their worth is not based upon their ability to play baseball. It's based upon the fact that they are each created in the image of God with infinite value and infinite dignity.

Is that kind of lesson too difficult for a twelve-year-old to grasp? Obviously not, especially when you use ice cream to prove your point!