Lessons From Gideon (Part 2)

Hey friend!

I've been thinking about you and the conversation that we started having last Thursday. Many of you posted comments or tweeted your thoughts about "Gideon's gifts". I loved sharing my thoughts with you on this story from Judges 6 and what the Lord has been teaching me through it.  Frankly, it's been on my mind all weekend. . .even when I was at my son's baseball game this Saturday.

I watched my 7 year old son - proud of his crisp uniform and worn leather mitt - take the field for his favorite weekend pass time. Win or lose, this boy just wants to play. The baseball diamond is where he wants to be.

My other two sons love the game too but one is not old enough to play yet and the other  . . . .well, the other is just as happy watching from the side lines for this season.
Jackson is my oldest son and has the body of an athlete prodigy. He can play every sport there is with ease. His legs and arms are muscular and lean and his sprint is as fast as his batting arm is strong. Come to one of our weekend games and you'll find Jackson there too, but he won't be on the field. 
You'll find him in the dug out.
He's happy there - at least for this season. He watches every detail of the game with a sharp eagle eye and is the first to congratulate wounded players fresh from a strike out on home base. When the team comes in for water and rest, he pats them on the back and encourages them with a steady chorus of "Good job team!". 

We still aren't sure why he didn't want to be on the team this season but one thing is for sure, he loves this position and doesn't feel any less important just because the clothes he is wearing aren't team issued. He isn't swayed by everyone who sees his athletic build and asks him why he's not out on the field with his brother.  Because, at least for now, this is what he feels comfortable doing.
So, he just does it.
Comfortable in his own skin. Smile on his face.

I felt especially proud of him this weekend.. . . cause there aren't many people who can be this confident on the sidelines.

God started my mind turning while I was right there on the silver bleachers behind home plate. I watched my boys - one on first base and one on the bench - and wondered about my answers to the questions that I want to ask you today:

Are you able to be content even if you're in the dug out for this season?
Are you willing to be an encourager to those that are on the field?

Do you feel comfortable enough in your own skin to stay in the dug out - even when other people think you are built for something else or should be doing "so much more" -until God releases you?
Do you genuinely believe that your roll is just as important as those whose positions are more visible.

Well. . what do you think. The balls in your court.
Priscilla