Above The Line Article:
"Paying the Price
for Others"
By Erik Carlson
 I
will always remember this day as the day my son (that’s
him in the picture) made his father a better person. Let
me set the stage. I started out this half day basketball
clinic in the same way I do my 5 day camps. I need to set
the tone; letting the kids, ages 6 to 18 years know that
our coaches will be giving them 100%; but in return, we
need them to give us their best. After all, as I ask them,
“Why did you come here?” I have them respond
“To Get Better!” Then I say “I can’t
hear you… why’d you come here??” Then
they shout “To Get Better!!!!!”
So, my first lesson is telling them that when a coach is
instructing, they are to pay attention. If they accidentally
drop their basketball, they are to quietly drop and give
one pushup, as a ‘self discipline’ of sorts.
This is not to punish, but to grow habits of respect to
elders, as well as develop good old fashioned self discipline.
It also makes it easier for the instructor to not have to
deal with distractions of bouncing balls during instruction
time.
So, as always happens, the first boy dropped his ball.
He was only about 6 years old. I could tell he didn’t
quite understand my request, so I told him not to worry
this time, but next time, he would have to ‘pay-up’
with one push up.
About 15 minutes later, I was observing my instructor,
Kyle, teaching and the same boy dropped his ball again.
I watched as Kyle politely asked the young boy to give him
one push up. The boy hesitated for about 4 or 5 seconds,
and it appeared that he was not going to do the pushup.
Just then, out of the blue, my six-year-old son, Christopher,
quickly raised his hand, and said in front of about 30 athletes,
and coaches “I’ll do it”… and he
immediately dropped and did one push up. I was stunned…
the place erupted in applause for my son… MY SON!!!
I’m tearing up writing this. Where did he learn that?
Who is this boy of only six years to step up and PAY THE
PRICE for another? In my 20+ years of doing camps, I have
never seen this. The fact that he was my boy… well,
I don’t have to tell you how proud I am.
Here is what is going through my mind right now. Today
is Memorial Day. How many soldiers fought and paid the price
for me to live with freedom in this amazing country? I am
also reminded of my Savior, Jesus Christ, paying the ultimate
price on the Cross for my sins. I mentioned that my son
made me better that day. I am inspired to live my life to
somehow pay a price today, in order to make a great impacting
change in the lives of others. Maybe it’s an encouraging
word or handwritten note to someone special. Join me in
this moment of amazement, to search how we can impact the
world in our own special way, with the gifts God has given
us, and serve others any way we can. |
