Kind Regards from Errol, Australia
-----Original Message-----
From: SS14U2(AT)aol.com <SS14U2(AT)aol.com>
To: tmic-list(AT)eskimo.com <tmic-list(AT)eskimo.com>
Date: Friday, 13 November, 1998 2:48 PM
Subject: A touching story & encouragement from Suzie
>
>The Father's Eyes
>
> Bob Richards, the former pole-vault champion, shares a moving story
> about a skinny young boy who loved football with all his heart.
> Practice after practice, he eagerly gave everything he had. But
> being half the size of the other boys, he got absolutely nowhere.
> At all the games, this hopeful athlete sat on the bench and hardly
> ever played. This teenager lived alone with his father, and the two
> of them had a very special relationship. Even though the son was
> always on the bench, his father was always in the stands cheering.
> He never missed a game. This young man was still the smallest of
> the class when he entered high school. But his father continued to
> encourage him but also made it very clear that he did not have to
> play football if he didn't want to. But the young man loved
> football and decided to hang in there. He was determined to try
> his best at every practice, and perhaps he'd get to play when he
> became a senior. All through high school he never missed a practice
> nor a game, but remained a bench warmer all four years. His
> faithful father was always in the stands, always with words of
> encouragement for him. When the young man went to college, he
> decided to try out for the football team as a "walk-on". Everyone
> was sure he could never make the cut, but he did. The coach
> admitted that he kept him on the roster because he always
> puts his heart and soul to every practice, and at the same time,
> provided the other members with the spirit and hustle they badly
> needed. The news that he had survived the cut thrilled him so much
> that he rushed to the nearest phone and called his father. His
> father shared his excitement and was sent season tickets for all
> the college games. This persistent young athlete never missed
> practice during his four years at college, but he never got to play
> in the game.
>
> It was the end of his senior football season, and as he trotted
> onto the practice field shortly before the big play off game, the
> coach met him with a telegram. The young man read the telegram and
> he became deathly silent. Swallowing hard, he mumbled to the
> coach, "My father died this morning. Is it all right if I miss
> practice today?" The coach put his arm gently around his shoulder
> and said, "Take the rest of the week off, son. And don't even
> plan to come back to the game on Saturday. Saturday arrived, and
> the game was not going well. In the third quarter, when the team
> was ten points behind, a silent young man quietly slipped into
> the empty locker room and put on his football gear. As he ran onto
> the sidelines, the coach and his players were astounded to see
> their faithful teammate back so soon. "Coach, please let me play.
> I've just got to play today." said the young man. The coach
> pretended not to hear him. There was no way he wanted his worst
> player in this close playoff game. But the young man persisted,
> and finally feeling sorry for the kid, the coach gave in.
> "All right," he said. "You can go in". Before long, the coach, the
> players and everyone in the stands could not believe their eyes.
> This little unknown, who had never played before was doing
> everything right. The opposing team could not stop him. He
> ran, he passed, blocked and tackled like a star. His team began to
> triumph. The score was soon tied. In the closing seconds of the
> game, this kid intercepted a pass and ran all the way for the
> winning touchdown. The fans broke loose. His teammates hoisted him
> onto their shoulders. Such cheering you never heard!
>
> Finally, after the stands had emptied and the team had showered and
> left the locker room, the coach noticed that the young man was
> sitting quietly in the corner all alone. The coach came to him and
> said, "Kid, I can't believe it. You were fantastic! Tell me what
> got into you? How did you do it?" He looked at the coach, with
> tears in his eyes, and said, "Well, you knew my dad died, but did
> you know that my dad was blind?' The young man swallowed
> hard and forced a smile, "Dad came to all my games, but today was
> the first time he could see me play, and I wanted to show him I
> could do it!"
>
> Like the athlete's father, God is always there cheering for us.
> He's always reminding us to go on. He's even offering us His hand
> for He knows what is best and is willing to give us what we need
> and not simply what we want. God has never missed a single game.
> What a joy to know that life is meaningful if lived for the Highest.
> Live for HIM for He's watching us in the game of life.
>
> RIGHT NOW:
> somebody is very proud of you.
> somebody is thinking of you.
> somebody is caring about you.
> somebody misses you.
> somebody wants to talk to you.
> somebody wants to be with you.
> somebody hopes you are not in trouble.
> somebody is thankful for the support you have provided.
> somebody wants to hold your hand.
> somebody hopes everything turns out all right.
> somebody wants you to be happy.
> somebody want you to find him/her.
> somebody wants to give you a gift.
> somebody wants to hug you.
> somebody thinks you ARE a gift.
> somebody admires your strength.
> somebody is thinking of you and smiling.
> somebody wants to protect you.
> somebody can't wait to see you.
> somebody loves you for who you are.
> somebody treasures your spirit.
> somebody is glad that you are their friend.
> somebody wants to get to know you better.
> somebody wants to be near you.
> somebody wants you to know they are there for you.
> somebody would do anything for you.
> somebody wants to share their dreams with you.
> somebody is alive because of you
> somebody needs your support.
> somebody will cry when they read this.
> somebody needs you to have faith in them.
> somebody trusts you.
> somebody hears a song that reminds them of you.
> The somebody who is thinking of you all is me..
> And I know you Tmers can beat this stuff with the
> right amount of persistence and courage..
>