I understand weakness.

     Today was my second day at my new job. (For those of you who don't know, I got a job helping to take care of kids in the YMCA's after school program here in Waycross.) It was a great day. I am not a mean person by nature and I have never been mean towards kids, I have always been the uncle who sort of just let's the kids do whatever they want to do without thinking about it, so this job is really stretching me and teaching me. I am so used to people my age where I expect them to do things a certain way and if they don't then we have an issue, and that is just not the way you can be with kids. Anyway, I am not going to go into teaching about kids right now haha. The whole reason that I am bringing any of this up is because today I actually helped a kid. Not like opening a door for them, but actually taught this kid something that I watched him put into practice and change his attitude about life.
     This kids name is Mason. He is 6 years old and joined my group today which are all 8 and 9 year old boys so he was slightly out of place. We took two groups of kids outside to play kickball and Mason decided he wanted to try pitching (or rolling) the ball. He didn't always roll it exactly straight and all the older kids yelled at him a bunch. Finally he got mad and started walking over towards where I was watching from next to third base and I asked him, "Are you mad at them?" And he said yes and started talking about how he couldn't do anything right, and how he doesn't know anything, and how he isn't fast, or smart, or anything. And I stopped him and started telling him that he could do stuff. I told him that he shouldn't let those guys tell him that he can't do something, I told him that if he decides to he can do anything. I used the example that I have played high school and college soccer and if I had listened to all of the people telling me that I couldn't do something, well to be honest I would not have tried out in the 9th grade. I told him that the best thing for him to do is to laugh and smile at the people picking at him and telling him that he cannot do something. I told him how people hate that more than anything. And on our way in a kid made fun of him for something and he said, "Hey, you're funny!" and kept on walking. And numerous other times that I was around him the rest of the day he kept either telling people that they were being funny or just laughing things off. I was very proud of him and I could tell that, that really meant a lot to him. He started opening doors for me everywhere I went and if I asked him to do something he made sure he did it.
     If I had always been the superstar sports guy, I probably would not have known how to help this kid today. I probably wouldn't even be in this position today. But the fact is, I was never the fastest, or the strongest, or the most talented. And everything that I have achieved I owe to God and hard work. I have had people point blank tell me, "James you need to quit soccer." or "James do you really think you are going to go anywhere in soccer? You are not!" But I laughed things off or tried too. I don't care what that little kid saying, "sticks and stones can break my bones bu words can never hurt me." means, that is not true. Words do hurt. But it is how you deal with them that matters. Madea says, "It's not what people call you, it's what you answer to."....... Often times being weak is the best thing for a person because it allows them to truly understand the measure of power, when power is achieved. My new favorite thing to say to adversity comes from Tim Tebow... 'ppreciate that.

     And I tried extremely hard to find a video clip for this but obviously I'm the only one who thought that this part of the Captain America movie was worth putting on the internet.... Anyway this is from when Dr. Erskine is talking with Steve Rogers (Captain America) the night before the procedure which turns Rogers into a super soldier...

     Dr. Abraham Erskine: Schmidt must become that superior man.
Steve Rogers: Did it make him stronger?
Dr. Abraham Erskine: Yeah. But, there were other effects. The serum was not ready. But more important, the man. The serum amplifies everything that is inside. So, good becomes great. Bad becomes worse. This is why you were chosen. Because a strong man, who has known power all his life, will lose respect for that power. But a weak man knows the value of strength. And knows compassion.
Steve Rogers: Thanks. I think.

Dr. Abraham Erskine: Whatever

 happens tomorrow, you must promise me one thing. That you will stay who you are. Not a perfect soldier, but a good man.