Bears Kicker a 'Great Example' of How to Handle Disappointment, and Where to Seek Refuge When Things Go Wrong

Dan Andros-Opinion : Jan 9, 2019
Faithwire.com

"I'm in the business of teaching my boys to be men, not to merely win a game. And last night we saw Cody Parkey in a very emotional, low moment. And we saw he is one of the guys who is made of the right stuff." -Dan Andros

[Faithwire.com] It's easy for most kids to gravitate to star athletes when it comes to players they want to be like. What youngster hasn't played backyard football and dreamt about being Tom Brady or Aaron Rodgers, heaving the team on their back and picking apart the opponent with clutch throw after clutch throw. (Screengrab image: Twitter/via Faithwire)

Today, I'll be making sure to have a sit-down conversation with my kids—especially my two boys (ages 7 & 9) who are really into football right now, and explaining why they need to be like the kicker who just lost the biggest game of his young career. At first glance, it seems counter-intuitive to emulate the player who arguably lost the game, especially in our winning and success-obsessed culture. The reality of life, however, isn't so glamorous. It's usually filled with disappointment, hardship, struggle.

Whether it be from finances, relationships, internal angst, career, or something else—you can bank on the fact that in this life you will experience some level of pain.

But it's in these times of pain, loss, sorrow, sadness, disappointment, that we have the opportunity to learn and grow the most. No parent likes to see their child in pain, but if we neglect to prepare our children for the inevitable struggles they will face someday, we're not doing our job as parents. If pain is one of the only certainties in this life, the only difference is how we respond to it. I want my kids to know what to do when life hits them with a punishing left hook, and so I'm always looking for small examples I can show them along the way.

Cody Parkey is a great example. When the world comes crumbling down, knowing where to seek refuge is critical. Seeking it in worldly places will lead to further despair. We see this when people turn to the bottle or drugs in times of sorrow, only to spiral further out of control. It's false comfort, a false refuge. Seems like a good idea, but ultimately fails...

...The game ending was our signal to begin the bedtime routine, and like most people with a house full of kids (we have four), bedtime can often be a bit chaotic and time-consuming. But I filed away something I noticed in Parkey's reaction after missing the field goal... Subscribe for free to Breaking Christian News here

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