Anyone who knows me, knows I love soccer! I love watching my nephews and niece play. I love watching my brother, when he's on a team. I loved playing on an indoor team a while ago. Most of all, I love watching professional soccer! Any chance I get to watch the U.S. women's or men's teams, I am there! I have season tickets to Real Salt Lake in the MLS and Real Monarchs in the USL. Avid soccer fan here!!!
In all of my watching and some times playing -not so well- but still fun, you could say I'm pretty passionate about it. The end of last season, and the beginning of this season, for Real have been tough games to watch. There are times when it looks like they don't even know each other, as they kick another boom ball up to who knows where! Sometimes you can feel their heart isn't in it. At the end of the season, you could see issues between players and the coach, on the field. It's just been messed up!
The thing is there have been some guys that aren't the best "team players" right now- and a whole lot of injuries! Well, I'm not here to blog about ReAL or even soccer for that matter. I'm here to blog about being a team player and how we each play a role.
Last Sunday, I attended my ward's fast and testimony meeting. My mom had attended her stake conference. Two thoughts from each of these meetings collided, and I wanted to share them with you!
A member of our bishopric was conducting our meeting, and as he bore his testimony, he talked about the experience of partaking of the Sacrament- maybe even an entire sacrament meeting- in a singles ward. The experience is amazing! Usually at church, you hear the noise of the children, and other commotions going on; which is completely fine! In a singles ward, it's completely silent- usually. The entire time of the passing of the sacrament you could nearly hear a pin drop. The Spirit is so strong, it's nearly tangible. I don't know that I've ever felt something like it in other meetings, ever.
In mom's stake conference, a former NBA player, that lives in her stake, was asked to speak and he spoke of being a team player on the Lord's team. He mentioned that each team needed a goal, a plan, and know how to practice it. He said to be a team player, you need to follow these steps:
1. Team members must trust the leaders and buy into the plan of that team.
2. Need to practice.
3. Be willing to make sacrifices for the good of the team.
I'm only going to talk about making sacrifices for the good of the team, as that thought struck me, in relationship to Bro. Larsen's testimony. The thought that came to mind is that, as I don't have a husband and children, like I've dreamed of my whole life, and many others in the same situation feel the same, that in a way that is our sacrifice at this time of our lives. For many women- thousands just in this region- this isn't a choice that they would make. Some do make that choice, which is fine, too. But while the ones that don't make that choice are living and enjoying life without these elements that they would like to have, they are sacrificing for the team. They have the opportunities to have some amazing experiences, that one day- as they're teaching the young women- a need for a story about an amazing sacrament meeting will come in handy, and help one of the young women learn something new or feel something new about the sacrament. I've thought about the blessings that will be shared serving in the relief society. These women that are now sacrificing will be examples of strength. As I've said before, looking to the past helps with the future. I remember once sitting in a "new beginnings" activity for the young women in a ward in our stake. New Beginnings is where the girls that are turning 12, come to be introduced to the young womens' program in the church. The presenter talked about how if the young women attend seminary and receive their young womanhood medallion, then they'll be blessed with a husband. Part of my sacrificing for the Lord's team, is that I can show those girls that even if they've fulfilled all of the goals, that the immediate blessing is not a husband, and that's okay.
These are small examples, but the idea helped me. I am completely fine with sacrificing now, if later it will help someone else.
Feel free to share if you have someone you think the idea might help, as well!
In all of my watching and some times playing -not so well- but still fun, you could say I'm pretty passionate about it. The end of last season, and the beginning of this season, for Real have been tough games to watch. There are times when it looks like they don't even know each other, as they kick another boom ball up to who knows where! Sometimes you can feel their heart isn't in it. At the end of the season, you could see issues between players and the coach, on the field. It's just been messed up!
The thing is there have been some guys that aren't the best "team players" right now- and a whole lot of injuries! Well, I'm not here to blog about ReAL or even soccer for that matter. I'm here to blog about being a team player and how we each play a role.
Last Sunday, I attended my ward's fast and testimony meeting. My mom had attended her stake conference. Two thoughts from each of these meetings collided, and I wanted to share them with you!
A member of our bishopric was conducting our meeting, and as he bore his testimony, he talked about the experience of partaking of the Sacrament- maybe even an entire sacrament meeting- in a singles ward. The experience is amazing! Usually at church, you hear the noise of the children, and other commotions going on; which is completely fine! In a singles ward, it's completely silent- usually. The entire time of the passing of the sacrament you could nearly hear a pin drop. The Spirit is so strong, it's nearly tangible. I don't know that I've ever felt something like it in other meetings, ever.
In mom's stake conference, a former NBA player, that lives in her stake, was asked to speak and he spoke of being a team player on the Lord's team. He mentioned that each team needed a goal, a plan, and know how to practice it. He said to be a team player, you need to follow these steps:
1. Team members must trust the leaders and buy into the plan of that team.
2. Need to practice.
3. Be willing to make sacrifices for the good of the team.
I'm only going to talk about making sacrifices for the good of the team, as that thought struck me, in relationship to Bro. Larsen's testimony. The thought that came to mind is that, as I don't have a husband and children, like I've dreamed of my whole life, and many others in the same situation feel the same, that in a way that is our sacrifice at this time of our lives. For many women- thousands just in this region- this isn't a choice that they would make. Some do make that choice, which is fine, too. But while the ones that don't make that choice are living and enjoying life without these elements that they would like to have, they are sacrificing for the team. They have the opportunities to have some amazing experiences, that one day- as they're teaching the young women- a need for a story about an amazing sacrament meeting will come in handy, and help one of the young women learn something new or feel something new about the sacrament. I've thought about the blessings that will be shared serving in the relief society. These women that are now sacrificing will be examples of strength. As I've said before, looking to the past helps with the future. I remember once sitting in a "new beginnings" activity for the young women in a ward in our stake. New Beginnings is where the girls that are turning 12, come to be introduced to the young womens' program in the church. The presenter talked about how if the young women attend seminary and receive their young womanhood medallion, then they'll be blessed with a husband. Part of my sacrificing for the Lord's team, is that I can show those girls that even if they've fulfilled all of the goals, that the immediate blessing is not a husband, and that's okay.
These are small examples, but the idea helped me. I am completely fine with sacrificing now, if later it will help someone else.
Feel free to share if you have someone you think the idea might help, as well!
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