One
Moment of Perfect Love
A new command I
give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must
love one another.
John 13:34
The rafters of the Van Hoosen Middle
School Auditorium in Rochester Hills, Michigan, reverberated above
the crowd’s cheers. The motivation for their excitement? Seventh
grader Owen Groesser, team manager turned player, had come off the
bench as a substitute.
Owen was beloved by his teammates and
coach, and they celebrated Owen’s appearance on the court as much
as anyone. The reason? Owen was born with Down Syndrome.
The game resumed and the building shook
even more as Owen took a pass on Van Hoosen’s end of the court.
Everyone watched, including the opposing team’s players, as Owen
launched his first shot attempt in organized basketball. The ball
banked off the backboard and swished through the net! The noise level
escalated to a raucous timbre. Owen had just made a 3-pointer!
Ecstatic over Owen’s achievement, the
crowd was showing their approval of his shot and Coach Jeff Howell’s
decision to give Owen some playing time.
Not satisfied with his initial success
however, Owen sank a second 3-pointer just minutes later! The
reaction of the crowd was so great that Coach Howell played Owen the
next night as well, where he sank two more 3-point baskets. At the
end of the game the team rallied around Owen, hoisting him upon their
shoulders in victory!
†
In a time when there is an
ever-increasing pressure to win it’s refreshing to hear a story of
real sportsmanship emerge. There are few things in life that rival
the fulfillment that emanates from the hearts of those who care
enough to not only include Owen as one of the team, but herald his
presence and triumphant accomplishments.
Only a heart that loves unselfishly
would sacrifice the limelight so someone else might know the
sensation.
This was a ‘team effort’ committed
to bringing Owen a rare moment of joy he will remember for the rest
of his life. It is one moment of perfect love. It is this love Jesus
gives to us twenty-four seven, three sixty-five.
Prayer
“Lord, I thank You for
fostering within me an unselfish love that has no agenda. May You
find me anxious to help initiate and participate in these moments of
perfect love. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”
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