“Stay ready, at the proper time you’ll reap a harvest.” ~ Galatians 6:9
Keri never started. Some matches
she didn’t play at all. Still, no one cheered louder.
While others played, she prepared her heart.
Before every match, even the ones where she never left the sidelines,
Keri bowed her head and whispered, “Lord, help me be ready.” She
believed God saw more than statistics and scoreboards. He saw effort. He saw
attitude. He saw loyalty.
It wasn’t easy being unseen. She wore her warm-up jacket
while her teammates’ jerseys grew damp with effort. Her name wasn’t announced
with the starters, and the crowd didn’t chant for her. Sometimes she wondered
if her chance would ever come. Still, she stayed ready.
She chased every ball in
practice, studied film, and stayed late serving against the wall until her arms
ached. Keri encouraged teammates and believed in them when they doubted
themselves.
Her Dad often said: “Whatever you do, work at it, as
working for the Lord.” If she played, she’d play for God. While she waited,
she would praise Him.
Championship match. Fifth set.
Up by one, must win by two. The gym pulsed with noise and nerves.
Midway through the rally, Janey, their outside pin, landed
awkwardly and crumpled to the floor. Silence swept across the court as the
trainer rushed in. Coach scanned the bench, her eyes settling on Keri. “Go
get ‘em, Keri!”
Fear rose quickly, but peace followed just as fast. God had
seen every hidden drill and every quiet prayer. She stepped onto the court
determined not to waste the moment.
The rally felt endless. The
ball soared and slammed against blocking hands before shooting into the ‘donut
hole.’ Keri reacted without hesitating. She dove, fully extended, sliding her hand palm-down flat against the
floor just in time to keep the ball alive with a perfect ‘pancake.’
The setter scrambled and delivered a ‘quick set’ to
the middle. A powerful spike ended the match.
The gym erupted. Teammates surrounded the middle blocker who
scored the final point. Cameras flashed, and the headlines the next day
celebrated the winning kill. No one mentioned the assist that made it possible.
For a moment, the old ache returned. Then Janey found Keri
in the hallway, wrapped her in a tight hug, and whispered, “We wouldn’t have
won without you.”
Keri unzipped her warm-up jacket, letting out a long, quiet
breath to steady the emotion rush. She hadn't just been waiting. She'd been
preparing
Smiling, she turned and rejoined her team.
Heavenly Father, we know that You see every
effort and all acts of obedience. Thank You for preparing us for the moments
You call us forward and reminding us that our worth is never measured by
applause, but by faithfulness to You. Amen
