My
daughter Hannah practiced for several weeks for the high school varsity cheerleader
tryouts. She had been a junior varsity cheerleader, and only 3 varsity spots
were open in a school of 2,000 students. Her best friend, Melissa, who was
already a varsity cheerleader, practiced with Hannah every day to help
her win one of the vacant spots. They kept talking about how fun it would
be to cheer together. Melissa taught her the proper way to jump and how to
always keep a smile on her face. She kept telling her, “You can do it,
Hannah! I know you can!”
Over 100 girls showed up to compete for the 3 spots. The results would be posted at 9:45 pm. At 10:00 pm, Hannah came home, sobbing uncontrollably. My wife and I rushed over to comfort her. I told her, “It’s okay that you didn’t make varsity. We’re glad that you tried.”
Hannah continued to cry. She finally settled down and said, “I did make the varsity, but the judges demoted Melissa from varsity to junior varsity and gave me her place on varsity. I hurt so badly for her. She’s devastated!”
We were stunned. In a weird twist of fate, Hannah took Melissa’s position on varsity, and Melissa took Hannah’s position on J.V. “I don’t want to be a varsity cheerleader now,” Hannah said. “I’m going to ask for my junior varsity position back so Melissa can stay on varsity.” I told her, “I don’t think the judges would allow that.”
Hannah got up and drove over to Melissa’s house, where they cried together. She didn’t want to leave her alone, so that night she slept on the floor next to her friend.
I always enjoyed watching Hannah lead cheers at football games, but my fondest memory was when she demonstrated the love of Jesus and slept on the floor next to a hurting friend. Jesus said, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself (Matt. 22:39), and we’ll never be able to do this until we first feel the pain that they feel. www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com www.makinglifecount.net
