Mark 9
By Pastor Libby
The White Star
The theme of Upward Sports is “Every Child is a Winner.” Yet no matter how hard we try to make each child successful there are moments of defeat and agony when you play any game. Kids are not dumb. Due to the competitive nature of sports and even the way we are built as humans, it’s hard not to compare yourself to someone else. It can be a real problem.
I remember in third grade, I was assigned to the Blue-Bird reading group and Darcy, my best friend; was assigned to the Yellow- Bird group. My assumption, based on the code word “Blue” was that I was the better reader and I promptly told her so. She in turn passed me a note that said, “Read this – you are not my friend anymore!” Lesson learned…
Even the Disciples, who walked with Jesus daily, In Mark 9:34 argue about who is the greatest. Jesus’ answer to them is clear, “If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all.”
In Upward Basketball and Cheerleading, kids and parents participate in Star Awards. Each child is given from their coach a different colored star and told what they did to earn it. The star I’m partial to is white. It stands for actions most like Jesus.
If a child encourages another child or gives the shot to someone who hasn’t had the ball, or helps their cheer coach pick up trash, those are things that are deserving of a white star.
Serving others, encouraging others, putting others first, these actions, born out of pure hearts truly make us great. Jesus came to serve and to save that which is lost. There is nothing greater.
What will you do this week to earn your own white star?
