Life Lesson #1

Sportsmanship-it's the name of the game!  My oldest son, Sam, age 15 has been running on the local HS cross country team all fall.  He is a freshman and this is his 2nd year on the team.  He has had a successful season, achieving a personal best time at almost every meet he has run.  Cutting 5 minutes off his times from last year and stepping up to the Varsity squad were the highlights of the season for him.  Last week, the team qualified for the State competition and Sam was named the first alternate, getting to train and travel with the big dogs.  He was thrilled, a bit apprehensive, but excited and nervous all at the same time.

Amid training with the upperclassman and more experienced runners, Sam has learned a valuable life lesson.  Sportsmanship!  He has learned that it's not always who comes in first, but who comes in best that counts.  Sometimes best is the guy who stumbles halfway through the race, but picks himself up and completes the race limping across the finish line, with a smile on his face.  Best might be the team everyone calls "The Machine" because they are THAT good and their guys always finish in the first 5 spots, but who turn around after every race and cheer in their competition, until the very last runner crosses the finish line.  Best is definitely the senior on Sam's team who coaches the younger guys before every race, walking them through the course and reassuring them that they can do it.  He always finishes ahead of the pack, but then he thanks the team for running with him and pushing him to achieve his personal goals.  Best was Sam at the meet when he placed 2nd behind a teammate who had never won a race before and Sam celebrated with Ben louder and longer than anyone.  That's what team sports are all about, being your best, each and every day for the good of the group and for the guy ahead of or behind you.