It was Friday night after the first day of the Ohio High School State Track Meet and our team had finished competition for the day; finals would be held on Saturday. Our team was at Texas Roadhouse for our team dinner. Our athletic boosters went out of their way to reward our student athletes who had qualified for States and everyone was ordering the biggest steaks on the menu.
I was sitting with another coach, one other student athlete and a junior on our team who had qualified for the state meet in the high jump in just his first year of competing in track and field. Quite an accomplishment to say the least.
When the waitress came to take our orders we all ordered our meals and our high jumper went last. He was the most quiet, shy kid on our team. When it was his turn to order he just pointed to the porterhouse steak on the menu. And then, the waitress asked him how he would like his steak. He was silent for a few seconds — and then he mumbled… “Ah… on a plate?”
I don’t blame you if you are tempted to chuckle, but I guarantee you if you knew that young man you would never have laughed. You see, our school (and hence our team) was unique in that we had a broad economic background of students. This young man had lived most of his life with his single grandmother who obviously couldn’t afford meals like steak… let alone at a restaurant.
I leaned over to him and whispered, “She’s asking how you would like your steak cooked.” He just stared at me… clearly not understanding still. So I said, “Hey, trust me on this… get it cooked like mine.” Meeting the waitress’s eyes, I said, “He’ll have it medium.”
Glancing at the table beside us, I looked at the guys sitting there. Our superstar and multiple State Champion hurdler… our sub 4:20 miler and my son who ran the 400 & 800, and the difference between those boys and the high jumper sitting with me could not have been more obvious. Those other boys all came from strong families where relationships were healthy and money was not a life-pressure point. The other table was full of boys who were loved and valued. They always were encouraged to be the best that they could be. Accomplished athletes and honor students — all of them. Life for our high jumper was so much different. I will admit to having a somewhat sober heart during that meal as I reflected on the blessings that some enjoy… contrasted with the challenges that others must face.
Today, as I ponder blessings, I am reminded of all the blessings we receive when we are children of God. John wrote, “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.” 1 John 3:1 When we know Christ we enjoy the lavish love of the Father. Lavish love… now, that doesn’t sound like a passive love, does it? God pours out his love and blessings on his children, and the difference between those blessed as his children and those who are not could not be more obvious.
Today, my prayer is that you are a blessed child of God. I pray that you have confessed your sin to God and sought his forgiveness. I pray that you have placed your faith in Jesus to be your Lord and Savior. A properly cooked steak is a fine thing… but the blessings found in being a child of God are priceless.
Leave a Reply