Way back in December, just after Christmas, I registered my daughter, Cady, for Challenge soccer. At the same time, I signed up my son, Sean, for little league baseball. Check those two items off of my "to do" list. Back to the two thousand others things populating my daily life as mother of five.
Fast forward to last night, when my daughter's best friend called to report that the team list came out and everyone was on the list except Cady. In her place was a new girl's name. Cady comes downstairs and asks her family registrar, me, what's going on. And I quickly hop online and am horrified to find that I in fact did not register my daughter for challenge soccer, the sport she absolutely loves and has played since before kindergarten. She's not on the team with all of her friends and neighbors. She's not even on a team. I am the worst mother! How could this happen?! How could I possibly screw this up so badly!?
Registration closed February 24--Cady's birthday. And the website says NO EXCEPTIONS, big, bold and inflexible. But I tried anyway. I sent an email pleading with the registrar, asking her to place Cady back on her team. I emailed her coaches, telling them what had happened, and asking for their help. And while the coaches were okay with adding one more girl to the roster, the registrar was not. NO EXCEPTiONS. No grace. No mom-to-mom understanding that this moment of exclusion is crushing my preteen daughter. And her extremely guilt-ridden mom. I can't sleep. I'm in tears. My husband, who's barely talking to me lately, tells me to "just get over it." What kind of mom would I be if I were to "just get over it" in less than 24 hours, while Cady has three months of hearing about her "team" playing soccer without her.
I don't like hard and fast rules that don't have to be hard and fast. Grace has to play a part when it comes to kids. Practices haven't even started. The team roster came out last night, for goodness sake. This could happen, but someone with a little too much power has forgotten that joy of extending grace. Giving someone something they don't deserve or haven't earned just because.
I work with kindergartners Monday through Friday. Grace plays a big part in the classroom. Second and third and fourth chances are doled out with hugs and shoulder taps of encouragement. Can I get a little of that over here, please, Mrs. Registrar. The Worst Mom in the World needs a little grace tonight. And who in this great big universe doesn't need a little grace now and then!? Let's make that a rule: to extend grace to those around us.
Guess what? The soccer debacle worked out...God's amazing hands were all over this one. Cady is not only playing Challenge soccer again this season, but she's on her team. Thank you to the wonderful woman who responded to my plea with compassion and action. I admire that. Once again, I'm reminded that all things are possible through God. :) And God's people.
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