I was never very good at basketball. I was almost always the last kid picked. The one standing there after everyone else had been chosen. The one the captains of the teams complained about saying, “I had her last time. It’s your turn.” Yes, I was that kid. Since I did get picked fairly regularly for other sports in gym class, I decided it wasn’t personal and I didn’t let it bother me. I was short, and basketball is not a game for the vertically challenged or so I thought.

We have 6 grandsons. Among them are two who are named Colby and Jack. I call them my Cheeseboys. This year the Colby half of the Cheeseboys decided to play basketball and, like any good grandparents, we went to some of his games. May I say, for the first time in my life, I paid attention to a basketball game. Not only is this not a game for the vertically challenged, this is not a game for the easily confused, which I am.

Offense at one end, defense at the other, and it all changes in seconds…Seconds! I had no idea who was playing what or why. They ran back and forth a bazillion times dribbling, traveling, passing, and shooting. And, they all seemed to know what was going on. Of course the parents helped.

“You’re on defense! Defense! Good job! Who are you guarding? Where’s your man? Number 7, number 7! Good job! Get between your man and the basket! Get between him…Get between him! You’re playing offense now! Offense! Good job!” And this was just from my son to Colby! Of course most of the other fathers, and some of the mothers, were doing the same thing. As any coddling, non-athletic Nana would agree, I thought the constant barrage of instruction was too much for these little boys. After all, they’re just babies! I made a decision. I’d see how things went at the next game and then speak to my son about it.

At the second game it was more of the same, the ongoing instruction, the barrage of direction. But, it was also something else. Something I hadn’t noticed the first time. Colby  was looking for his Father’s instruction. He was listening for his Father’s voice. It made me think…maybe I should do the same…maybe we all should. After all, it is a very big deal.

“For He is our God…today if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts…” 

~Psalm 95:7