Pray the Game: Finding God at Your Child’s Sports Games

As a parent of growing children, you’ll likely find that more and more of your time is spent at your child’s meets, matches, and practices. The time you spend sitting in the bleachers at these sporting events can be a great opportunity to enhance your prayer life. While not necessarily an ideal or obvious atmosphere for connecting with God, with these helpful tips, you’ll be able to “pray the game” in no time.Recognize the Presence of God in the Young AthletesRemember that God loves each and every one of His creations just the same – even that unsportsmanlike child on the other team. You can focus your prayers by using the athletes as inspiration: ask God to grant each athlete physical safety throughout the game, and that your child uses this opportunity to show God’s love to their fellow teammates and opposing team.Recognize the Presence of God in Other Parents and SpectatorsIf you’re a frequent spectator, you’ll no doubt come across some familiar faces and friends. Try to listen more and talk less when engaging in conversation with these other event-goers. Then pray for any needs that they share with you. Take time to build friendships with other team parents, inviting families over for dinner, a pool party, or a game night.Win or Lose: Learn From ItSometimes, your child’s team will dominate and they’ll be the star player. Sometimes, the other team will beat them, and your child might have accidentally passed the ball to someone on the wrong team or got benched because of an injury. Remind your child how important it is to show kindness to both his or her team and the other team, no matter the outcome. Tell him or her to congratulate the winners, praise teammates who excelled, and encourage teammates who feel discouraged in their performance.Try to See the Whole Event as God DoesGod rejoices in every act of love and every family coming together in unity and friendship. His infinite beauty through creation is on display with every second of each sporting event, demonstrating the capabilities of each athlete and the amazing things the human body can do. God sees everything – the soul, the determination of heart, the discipline of the mind, and the tenacity of the human spirit within both defeat and victory. Polk County Schools proclaim the Gospel message within an academic environment of excellence that challenges students to be creative and critical thinkers. To learn more about what makes us different, contact us online or at 407-246-4800.