Compassion for NBA Players?

As I have watched the NBA Finals this past week, I have been reminded that televised sports provide an excellent opportunity to talk with children about life’s challenges.

Last night the Warriors’ Andre Iguodala missed 8 consecutive free throws. (I haven’t even seen a middle school player miss 8 free throws in a row!)If your child is a big Warrior fan and frustrated by Andre’s struggles, you might ask:

·         How do you think Andre felt?

·         How do you think his teammates felt?

·         How do you think his mother felt?!

·         How would you feel if you were the one who missed all those shots while millions of people were watching you on T.V.?

These questions can help a child develop compassion as he realizes that these highly skilled athletes are people, too. People with feelings. People who fail. People who become discouraged. People who don’t want to let their teammates and fans down. Even MVP’s LeBron James and Stephen Curry have had bad games in this championship series.

And we all share their weakness. When we fail repeatedly to live up to God’s standards, we, too, can become discouraged or ashamed. Fortunately we know a God who understands our makeup:

¹³ As a father shows compassion to his children,
    so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.
¹⁴ For he knows our frame;^[a]

 he remembers that we are dust. (Ps. 103) 

We are all less than we would like to be—and God knows it. May we experience God’s compassion in our failures so that we can extend that compassion to our fellow, fallen human beings.