What if I Don't Make the Team?

“What if I don’t make the team?” your kid asks, looking up at you with eyes full of dread. Whether it’s getting picked last on the playground or getting cut from the football squad, not being “good enough” is a real source of anxiety for kids who aren’t naturally athletic.

This feeling is compounded when we give kids messages like “You can do or be anything you want if you put your mind to it.” It may be a comforting thought, but it’s just not true. Some kids will never be Olympic speed-skaters or NBA basketball stars, no matter how hard they try. But you know what? That’s OK.

God gives each and every person a unique set of gifts and talents. Our culture places a huge emphasis on sports, but that’s just one small part of the talent spectrum.

If sports don’t come easy to your kids, help them find the things they do excel at. A good place to start is to look for the things they’re irresistibly drawn to. If it’s movies, introduce them to filmmaking. If it’s art, make sure they have quality materials to work with. If it’s compassion for others, find opportunities for them to serve.

In the end, your kids will get a much greater sense of satisfaction from excelling at the things God has “wired” them for than the things they think they “should” be good at.