Much is Expected

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From the desk of Wally Dawkins, Athletic Director:

I recently had this talk with our Middle School Boys Basketball Team.  I would say the following applies to 100% of these student athletes, if not, then at least 99.5%.  We meet in the middle of the gym each morning at 7:30 AM, and just prior to the start of practice, we have a little talk and a prayer led by one of our players.

This morning’s talk went something like this as I spoke to the boys:

We all woke up this morning in a warm bed.  None of us woke up hungry (you know the real kind of hungry because there was no food…anywhere.  None of us woke up being hungry like that!).

We all woke up today with parents who loves us.

None of us woke up this morning afraid of getting killed, or fearing for our lives, from things like bombs or rocket propelled grenades, or from a bunch of crazy people invading us here in East Texas, blowing up  everything in sight and slaughtering anyone who crossed their path.

None of us woke up in a country today that is being ravaged by a disease so contagious and deadly that countless thousands have already lost their lives, and there is no cure in sight.

Not one of our students woke up this morning having no hope…no opportunity…or no chance at a meaningful future.

We are all truly blessed that nobody from Brook Hill had to face any of these problems when they rolled out of bed this morning.

Unfortunately, many children in the world did wake today to one or more of those awful circumstances when they were awakened by the morning’s light.

Truly we are a blessed people and unfortunately sometimes… we don’t even realize it.

To be blessed by God with food, shelter, a loving family, safety, warmth, opportunity, and good health should never be taken for granted.  Not only are the blessings from God good, with those blessings comes a responsibility from those of us who have received them.

Luke 12:48 speaks clearly to this when the writer says “to those who are given much, much is expected”.

The Brook Hill Family is a people who have been given much.

As coaches at BH, we frequently urge our athletes who have received much, to give back much.  We continuously encourage our team members who all have been given much, to apply themselves…much.  We remind these young men and women that since they have been given much by God; they then are called by God that others should be blessed by the gifts we have received.

As coaches and parents, we have a duty to bless our Brook Hill student athletes who have been given much by expecting much from them. “Expecting much” can come in many shapes and sizes i.e. challenging them, guiding them, teaching them a strong sense of work ethic, self-discipline and responsibility, as well as by teaching what loyalty and commitment really look like, and these are just a few.

In contrast, allowing them to lack flounder in the muck of self-discipline, to make excuses for their short-comings, and to instill in them a sense of entitlement is not what God “expects” from us as parents and coaches.

Brook Hill “kids” have been given much, and much will be expected of them.

The “player prayer” offered before practice this morning was led by a sixth grader.  In his prayer, he asked God that all of the team would be thankful and appreciate their many blessings.  And then the young man asked for this; he said “God, please bless those kids who are sick and cold…who are hurting, or who are afraid and for those who don’t have parents to receive Your blessing of peace and comfort and please take care of them Lord”.

Not only was it very eloquent…it was stirring, and as a Brook Hill parent, you would have been proud.

To those who have been given much, much is expected!

And that’s another reason to be “ALL ORANGE…All The Time”!