Cheerleaders

In this world of critical people, way too much "mean" and way too little understanding of grace, enter cheerleaders.  I was watching a football game last fall and our team was not winning.  Still, our cheerleaders went out between plays and encouraged, uplifted and kept us grounded in the hope 1) we could do better and 2) the game might not be the most important thing happening in our lives.  Cheerleaders are beautiful reminders of something we might have missed in Scripture.  And they might just remind us of that special day coming this Sunday (Mother's Day)!

Hebrews 12:1-2 seems pretty simple on the surface.  "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.  And let us run, with perseverance, the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith."  For this blog today, let's think about that "great cloud of witnesses as our cheerleaders.

I read this passage in the context of Mother's Day and realized that, for many of us, mama was our greatest encourager and cheerleader.  In relation to the passage, I dug down to what that cheerleading looks like.  To those of you who had a mama, like mine, that was for me, this passage means one thing.  Mama encouraged, corrected and loved me through all parts of life, even at those times when I didn't do so well.  For those of you who didn't have a mother who was your cheerleader, I have some good news.  God, in the context of love, nurture and presence, has always been there for you.  God, in Genesis 1, created ... and the passage specifically says, "God created people in His image ... in the image of God He created them ... male and female He created them."  If your mama did a great job of reflecting this godly image, I am grateful for you.  If your mama was less than stellar at this, you have a God who stands in this place, ready to give you everything you need for success.  For we all were created in God's image.

For me, I think of our families, our mothers and our fathers as part of that multitude of cheerleaders that help us as we move through life.  Sometimes their encouragement is spot on, and sometimes it isn't what we want or need.  But God has created, in Jesus, a leader that is able to fill every missing gap and see every missing need.  He is the one who began our faith.  He is the one leading the cheerleaders to encourage and equip us.  And He is at the end of our race, ushering us into His place where we will worship, love and cheer eternally.  It is a good plan, because none of us are left without someone to look up to at our time(s) of need.  Thank you , God, for cheering us on and keeping us on the journey to follow You!  AMEN