My kid is going to be the next...

As some of you know, I have a son. He is a big boy and I don't mean that in parental terms like "Who's a big boy!?" I mean at age 5, he is over 4 feet tall and weighs about as much as a bag of cement (unless he's sleeping, then he weighs in at precisely...hippopotamus)

So of course, what do I get all the time? "What sport is he gonna' play?"

 Like most boys, he loves the things I love...I love football, he loves football...I love baseball, he loves baseball.....you see where I am going here, but, I do have a point.
That is however, that if he is going to be loving all things that I do or "follow" I feel like I should be pointing him in the right direction.

Sure, I love the fact that he is always screaming "go Derek Jeter!' whenever the Yankees are on but I don't want him to idolize anyone. Certainly not a playboy from NYC who dates model after model and plays short stop for the Yanks while swimming in millions of dollars!! Wait, what??...no really, I do not want "that " to be my boys focus if he becomes the first pro athlete from the farms of  Northfield, CT. Derek Jeter, after-all, is an Idol.

It is well known in the Bible that we shouldn't follow or worship idols in the first place and with that I would rather him follow some tendencies of athletes, instead of trying to "be" them.

 So, on that note...let's get to it! Here is an athlete that I want my son to pick up the attributes of while enjoying sports himself.(or any other extra curricular activities that his mother signs him up for while I'm not looking)

Tim Tebow- For those of you that don't know, he is the quarterback for the Denver Broncos. To say this kid has overcome a lot is an understatement. I know, I know "cliche alert" but  seriously, from birth he has overcome a lot. His mother suffered a life-threatening infection while pregnant with Tim and was told to have an abortion to keep her from further complications and she refused. Afterwords, he was called by his mother her "Miracle Baby" (and to be honest, i wouldn't be surprised if the name is sticking in Denver right now?)

Although, that is not really where I am going here...he is constantly doubted while playing in the pros. He is told that he is not a prototypical QB and many doubt that he will last. With all that he goes through two things stay constant, his love of Christ and...well, he wins!  

Although, the biggest issue with Tim is a lot of Americans do not want to hear it.

“There has been a really strong social movement of evangelical Christianity for half a century,” said Mr. Krattenmaker, the author of Onward Christian Athlete, who is now writing a book on the changing attitudes of young evangelicals.
“And we’re used to seeing athletes making gestures and talking about God’s role. It’s been a very conspicuous part of the culture.
“But Tebow seems to have taken it to a much higher level. A lot of people don’t want to hear it anymore — from anyone, not just athletes. People are getting really irritated with public displays of religion. It’s like fingernails on chalkboard.”

Now as far as his love of Christ, he has been recognized since his days in college (Florida) of being a stand up, devout Christian. He was actually the reason a rule was created for any visible writing in the "eye black" of a college player. (this is that line of black paint under a football players eyes)  During his college career he was well known for having biblical verses written in his, such as John 3:16 and  Proverbs 3: 5-6.

He is also well known for "Tebowing" that is when he kneels down and prays while either scoring in or winning a game. (us Christians call it praying, but to each their own!)

Where the term originated is beyond me. I have heard the media created it and also that some kid on Facebook has legal ownership of it...gotta' love the legal system!

 Also, Tim is well known for his mission work, as well his foundation that cares for 600 orphans around the world and he is open about the fact he is a virgin, saving himself for marriage. The thing that you have to love about all of this is that he isn't pushing his religion onto anyone, even if that is the way it is being perceived. He is simply doing this because it is what he knows is right, and of course it was the way he was raised in the Church as well as being home schooled by his parents whom were missionaries. (OK so he had a bit of parental influence...heh, heh, and we move on!!) 

Now, that is the player that I want my son to emulate! Although, he really doesn't have to because he is already starting down the path. My boy actually recited John 3:16 the other night at Awana (a Christian affiliated after school program) and earned his vest!

Now that is no NFL jersey that comes along with a million dollar signing bonus and tons of awards and adulation....no my friends, in this fathers eyes, it's better!