pressed but not crushed

We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed. 2 Corinthians 4:8-9

Five minutes until 12pm, I file in behind other parents at the high school gym waiting for basketball camp to let out. I glance over at 9-year-old son leaning against bleachers as another group of boys play five on five. Our eyes meet and he instantly casts his down to the shiny wood floor where tennis shoes squeaked all morning. Dejected is the best word to describe his countenance. My mind races.

Boys are called to line up on the court to receive ribbons. The same three boys spin their blue, red, and white treasures on fingers while mine walks to me as he did yesterday, shoulders slumped, head down.

We make our way to car where he instructs me to not ask questions. I don't. Silence.

Upon coming home, excitement builds at the prospect of seeing Dad's truck home. This time it doesn't matter that Dad is a scholarship athlete or NAIA National Champion in basketball. What's important is that he is a champion encourager and lifter of a little boy's chin...Dad, who has a way of bringing all things into perspective.

I stand on the sidelines with pom-pons, make lunch, do cheers and toe-touches of sorts. We pull back from our family huddle, ready for another day, another opportunity to build character...the same kind of character that comes when same said boy had to ride sister's purple bike for a period of time...the same kind of character that comes from being the new kid in school...the same kind of character that comes from going into the girl's bathroom on the first day of school...character.

This boy's got character.

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We also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Romans 5:3-4