Parents Must Help Their Child-athletes Connect with God

The world of sport has exploded for kids in our culture. More children are competing — up nearly 50% over 25 years ago. More girls compete—nearly a tenfold increase in high school participation between 1970-2000. More children start earlier. More kids focus on one sport year round. More is demanded of these athletes—more practices, more games, more travel. More is demanded of their families-more money, more involvement, more expectations.

The question that rises from these statistics is, How does this flood of “more” impact parents’ goal to raise children who love God with all their hearts? The answer starts with parents – we must love God ourselves before we can help connect our child-athletes to God. We can’t pass on something we don’t possess.

I am a recovering sports addict. My childhood was filled with sports, playing them, watching them, dreaming about them. Though it is not wrong to enjoy sports, my challenge has been to be more temperate about them.

Some time ago I asked my wife to record a championship football game for me because I had another commitment. Since I enjoy the unexpected in sports, I made it clear to my sons that I wanted to view the game without knowing the outcome. When I came home, my long-faced, six year-old son greeted me: “Dad, I won’t tell you the score but I don’t think you will want to watch the game.” I immediately knew that my team had lost. I responded sharply, “Andrew, you weren’t supposed to tell me!” Unfortunately, my values were showing. I was more concerned about a trivial football game than my treasured son.

When parents become obsessed with sports, as so many have, they may try to serve that passion through their children. One father explained that watching his son play football “was almost like I was competing myself again.” Ouch! Parents, please understand: your childhood is over and your child still has his to live!  Appointing your child to fulfill your dreams puts a burden on him that he is “too small to bear and too young to comprehend.”

When I have counseled over-zealous parents that it is O.K. to occasionally miss their children’s sporting events, some look at me as if I am advocating child sacrifice! But if your relationship with God is the priority of your life, won’t you need to occasionally miss a child’s ballgame to attend a retreat or a home Bible study? If you always sacrifice those activities for your child’s athletics, what are you teaching your child? You can build your life around God or your child’s sporting life—but you can’t do both.

 

We parents need to remember what is truly, eternally important. Kids today need parents who have a larger vision for them than the next championship trophy.