“Wall of Fame” Material
By: Maggie Meadows Cooper
“You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely. You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me.” – Psalm 139:1-5
Anyone who knows my son, knows he is an avid sports card collector. Cards in books, shoeboxes, drawers…everywhere! One of his Christmas gifts last year was a display frame for his top 20 cards… the “Wall of Fame.” As I was looking through his books for ones he wanted to include in the frame, I came across something that grabbed my heart.
In the center spot of one page, positioned in the midst of Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Joe Montana, Anthony Rizzo, Max Scherzer, and other football and baseball greats, sat my son’s all-star baseball card. Now, I don’t know how his card came to be in that spot, but I do know this. The world might laugh that a little 9-year-old boy would be included among these amazing athletes, but the Lord looks on them all the same.
So many times, the world tells us that we don’t measure up. That our worth should be based on our earthly accomplishments, awards, and recognition. That if we aren’t included on a list of “who’s who,” we aren’t enough.
Posted in his room are these verses to remind him that the Lord loves him, has a plan for him, and will give him strength for the hard things:
“You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely. You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me.” Psalm 139:1-5
“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” Psalm 73:26
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways submit to Him and He will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6
“He must become greater and greater, I must become less and less.” John 3:30
“Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid, for the Lord God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11
I pray that whether my sweet boy ever achieves pro sports status or not, that he will always know how precious he is in the Lord’s eyes. What a gift to know that no matter our abilities, in sports or the arts or academics or anything else, we are all “wall of fame” material to God. May we all find comfort in knowing we are his and share him with those around us.
