Real Life Stories
Dad's Eyes Part 1
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Bob Richards, the former pole-vault champion, shares
a moving story about a skinny young boy who loved football
with all his heart. Practice after practice, he eagerly
gave everything he had. But being half the size of the
other boys, he got absolutely nowhere. At all the games,
this hopeful athlete sat on the bench and hardly ever
played. This teenager lived alone with his father and
the two of them had a very special relationship. Even
though the son was always on the bench, his father was
always in the stands cheering. He never missed a game.
This young man was still the smallest of the class when
he entered high school. But his father continued to encourage
him but also made it very clear that he did not have to
play football if he didn't want to. But the young man
loved football and decided to hang in there. He was determined
to try his best at every practice, and perhaps he'd get
to play when he became a senior. All through high school,
he never missed a practice nor a game but remained a bench-warmer
for all four years. His faithful father was always in
the stands, always with words of encouragement for him.
When the young man went to college, he decided to try
out for the football team as a "walk-on." Everyone
was sure he could never make the cut, but he did. The
coach admitted that he kept him on the roster because
he always puts his heart and soul to every practice, and
at the same time, provided the other members with the
spirit and hustle they badly needed. The news that he
had survived the cut thrilled him so much that he rushed
to the nearest phone and called his father. His father
shared his excitement and was sent season tickets for
all the college games. This persistent young athlete never
missed practice during his four years at college, but
he never got to play in a game. It was the end of his
senior football season, and as he trotted onto the practice
field shortly before the big playoff game, the coach met
him with a telegram. The young man read the telegram and
he became deathly silent.
Swallowing hard, he mumbled to the coach, "My father
died this morning. Is it all right if I miss practice
today?"
The coach put his arm gently around his shoulder and said,
"Take the rest of the week off, son. And don't even
plan to come back to the game on Saturday."
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