TGIF
Last week, my TGIF message to end the old year and begin the new year was one to encourage everyone to seek continuous Joy in your heart. Then the day after I sent that message, I saw two examples of Joy in action in college football, so want to share those examples with you.
I was watching ESPN Gameday last Saturday in preparation for the two college football games to be played that day with the two winners advancing to play in the national championship game this coming Monday. That show played a clip of one of the quarterbacks playing last Saturday, JJ McCarthy for the Michigan Wolverines. The story began by showing him displaying a Smiley Face on his hand that he paints before each football game he plays. The story reported – As the story goes, JJ McCarthy was signing autographs for fans after a tough loss during his sophomore year in his high school playing days. Yes, even back then JJ McCarthy was popular enough to be signing autographs. JJ was approached by a young girl who asked him to sign a newspaper, when she asked him why he looked so upset – almost like he wasn’t having fun out there. JJ told the young fan that he didn’t play well and that he was unhappy with losing the game. The young girl explained to JJ that he should be having fun while he’s playing football. After all, football is a game and games are supposed to be fun…right? She then took the Sharpie marker that JJ was using to sign autographs and drew a Smiley Face on his hand as a reminder to always have fun. From that moment on, JJ has drawn the Smiley Face on his hand before every single football game he’s played – including every game at the University of Michigan, so for over 5 years now. In addition, JJ has made a commitment to donate a percentage of the money he now can earn as a football player to benefit children in need and make a difference in our world by helping others in need.
JJ lost his game last Saturday to TCU so will not get to play in the championship game. Unfortunately, I was unable to get any of his post-game comments. The other losing quarterback last Saturday was CJ Stroud of Ohio State, whose team led Georgia for much of their game, but lost at the very end. He was chosen to appear at the post-game press conference along with his head coach immediately after the game and he made these comments. I have no regrets on certain plays. It is hard to do what we do, it is hard. But it is still a blessing at the same time so you have to be Joyful in these types of moments. I am not happy sitting here right now, God is still amazing to me, He still blesses me and Coach [Day] in so many ways. Of course you want to win, and this game means a lot to us, whatever you can do to put smiles on peoples’ faces. It is tough, my Mom, she goes through a lot. Coach Day, his wife goes through a lot. But I wouldn’t regret anything, I wouldn’t take anything back. I am blessed to have Coach Day, I am blessed to have the teammates that I have. I do believe that JJ would have had similar thoughts to those expressed so eloquently by CJ at such a difficult time right after a game they expected and hoped to win but instead had a difficult loss.
The moral of this story about JJ and CJ and their walk with God is that we need to enjoy the walk we are on in our daily life, whatever we are doing. The walk should be Joyful, and not just based on the end result of one activity or at the end of the day, but seen as a lifelong journey and opportunity. JJ can now remember the message given to him by a young girl 5 years earlier by painting a Smiley Face on his hand to remind him of the real reason for the Joy he receives from being able to play the game he loves while earning a college degree from a top notch university, helping others in need by his opportunity to earn money while in college, and maybe having the chance to play professional football in his future. CJ also would not change anything in the path he has chosen for himself, except of course the final score of the game in which he just competed in with such great effort.
I will conclude with the same scripture that I used first in last week’s message, as I think it best exemplifies the attitude of these two Godly men who are living life to the fullest and giving all the glory to God.
James 1:2-4 – Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
As I concluded last week’s message – If you are looking for a New Year’s resolution, consider seeking Joy continuously in your heart, according to God’s Word.