There's no crying in Basketball

I watched my 10 year old walking the court, resignation obvious in the slump of his shoulders. Since the beginning of the season he's done a great job of following the unwritten team rule, if you accidently end up with the basketball just quickly pass it back to the team's Super Star and all is forgiven. Mr. Super Star has led them to many a victory. He's tall, quick, smart, coordinated . . . everything a star basketball player should be. But winning lost it's appeal early in the season and not even a hostess cupcake and a juice box can put a smile back on my little players face. "I want to quit," he whispered through quivering lips at halftime. "I haven't touched the ball once."

I think that we, as women, often fall into the Super Star trap. We realize that we're not as quick, smart or coordinated as many of the "Stars" surrounding us and instead of stepping up and adding our talent to the team (our community, the PTA, a church calling) we pass the responsibility back to the "Super Stars" that we know will do it better.

Heavenly Father is sitting in the stands, hoping that someone will pass us the ball, and when they do He wants us to do our best. He doesn't expect 3 point shots or fancy footwork. He just wants us to realize our worth to the team, to give it all we've got. He's doesn't care about the scoreboard, he's just pleased that we signed up for the team in the first place.

So let's be better at passing the ball, and accepting the ball. Let's be less afraid of shooting and blocking and cheering each other on. Let's think only of teamwork and not about winning or losing . . .

because there's always a yummy cupcake and juicy juice at the end

whether we made a basket or not.