God is in the small things

"Bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you." Luke 6:28 My oldest is in 2nd grade and has been having some issues during recess with his classmates. They have been playing football and there are a few boys that control the plays and leave several boys out - mine included. It's not that they don't choose him to play, it's that he never gets thrown the ball. This has gone on for a couple weeks, but yesterday my son was so bothered by it he wouldn't eat his dinner and finally broke down crying and told me how hurt he was. He went so far as to ask me to take him back to school so we could hide the football so they wouldn't have to play the next day. I prayed for wisdom and searched his devotional book for a topic that would address this (and no we didn't hide the football!). Thankfully the Lord gave me the devotional entitled "Prayers for Friends" from the "Gotta Have God" devotional. This particular devotion was about boys who were being mean. My son's friends were not being mean, just controlling and competitive - like some kids are. That's ok, unless you are on the receiving end of it and then it's not too fun. But as we read the devotional last night, I explained to him that there were many professional football players who never touch the football - most of them in fact. He had two choices - he could play with his friends - whether they passed the ball to him or not - to the best of his ability, and try and intercept the ball or play the best defense he could. Or he could play with his other friends who were not playing the game at all. It was his choice. At the end of our devotion time, I asked him to pray to God for recess tomorrow, and to pray for his friends. His prayer went something like this "Lord, please hide the football tomorrow so we won't have to play". Ok, not exactly what I was after, but that is what his heart felt so I didn't say anything. I went on to finish our prayer time praying for wisdom for my son to make the right choice during recess the next day. The next day I prayed for him all morning, and even drove by the playground when I thought he would be there. They had already gone in, but one of the boy's moms was outside and we talked for a bit (nothing major - but definitely God ordained that she was there). Later that day when my son came home, I asked him how recess went. He nonchalantly said that they had played soccer - they couldn't find the football. He went on to tell me what great plays he made defensively and as a goalie - he was so excited! That night during our devotion time, I reminded him that he had a lot to thank God for. That the God who created the universe thought of him today and helped him to have a great recess. So during his prayer, he thanked God for getting rid of the football. I secretly thanked Him too.