Powder Puff Football – Filling Another’s Shoes

I Peter 3:8 – “Finally, all of you should be of one mind, full of sympathy toward each other, loving one another with tender hearts and humble minds.” (NLT)

Screams and cheers rang across the white-striped field as players and coaches entered the arena. The football contest was about to begin, but this was no ordinary competition. Powder Puff football was the name of the game last Saturday night when Junior and Senior female players suited up to test their skill and endurance against each other.

On the sidelines the seasoned young men football players pulled their hair out trying to coach a team unfamiliar with plays they knew so well while male cheerleaders dressed in cock-eyed pleated skirts screamed and jumped, entertaining the crowd.

A pleasant and entertaining evening lent itself to some important life lessons. It is not always easy to fill another person’s shoes. While it might be natural to become irritated with a hard-nosed coach, it is a different story when you are trying to train new players who are unfamiliar with the game plays.

Sitting on the sidelines of the game it is possible to become baffled as to why a player didn’t execute the play properly until you are the one on the field surrounded by the opposing team. Thinking quickly in a tense situation doesn’t always come easy.

And those cheerleaders – what can I say? Though the boys were pretty creative they definitely did not look too good in those crazy get-ups. And I am sure when they got home they felt a few muscles twinges from trying to execute aggressive jumps and moves.

When we have walked a while in someone else’s shoes it is more easy to have sympathy towards those around us. Our prideful thoughts and hardened hearts become more soft and humble when we recognize the challenges that others face. Greater understanding often allows us to appreciate and love others more.

This is the kind of attitude that God wants us to have. He wants us to be of one mind full of sympathy towards each other and loving one another with tender hearts and humble minds. Don’t repay evil for evil or retaliate when people say unkind things about you. Instead pay them back with a blessing.

This kind of attitude is so much easier to have when you have walked in someone else’s shoes for a while. So if you are having trouble with a prideful and unsympathetic attitude, ask God to help you change – or maybe you could sign up to play in the next Powder Puff football game. 🙂

Love,

Mama