Practice

 Our local youth rodeo series began a couple weeks ago, and that means big fun has begun for my little cowboys.  It is the second year that (a) has participated, and by the end of the summer (b) will be joining him for one event this year.  I will be very clear up front and say that we are not doing this for our kids to win awards or titles.  Most important to us are the fact that it is something they love, they are learning important life lessons, and making the kind of friends and mentors we are please for them to have.  HOWEVER, we would like to not be totally embarrassed by their performance, and if they happen to win some prize money or awards along the way that would be great. 

 

As we headed toward the first rodeo, I had a serious talk with (a) about what events he wanted to participate in and we discussed that if he was going to do these, he would need to be practicing.  Entries were due a week before the rodeo and he adamantly chose to participate in mutton bustin’, dummy roping, and goat tail untieing.  Now mutton bustin’ is hard to practice when you don’t have any sheep readily available, but he has a roping dummy and several things that could function for goat tail practice.  For the past few months, he has been practicing the goat tail event (as has (b) which is hilarious because he incorporates sound effects), but he was NOT doing a great job practicing his roping.  Because of this I seriously questioned him when he was determined to enter the event.  I gave in to his request, but told him I had high expectations for him to practice.  That night practice was a total disaster.  At one point or another all three kids were hit in the head with the rope (which is pretty stiff and has a pretty good sting if it gets ya), his form was embarrassingly terrible from lack of practice, and his attitude stunk.  Before the evening was over, I was in tears and pretty frustrated that I had given in to his request to be entered.  The other practices of the week weren’t much better and I was beginning to think about how I could hide behind a tree and pretend NOT to be the mom of this contestant when it was his turn.  Thankfully a quick trip home to Indiana landed him a roping practice with his Aunt Kayda (who is good at it and knows FAAARRRR more than either one of his parents).  She has the patience of Job with this child, and through some bribery and sweet talking, was able to get him to listen to her lessons on form and technique.  To all of our shock and amazement, the day of the rodeo he had three legal catches out of his 6 attempts (too bad two of them were during practice and not competition).  A little feeling of accomplishment went a long way, and he is now eagerly having roping practice in our yard almost every evening.  He sent a video to his three-month-old cousin last night and told him “I’m having roping practice.  I have practice every night because practice is important!” 

What a change of perspective- he was frustrated originally and didn’t want to practice because he wasn’t any good.  But he has now learned that he isn’t going to be good without the practice and it is making a difference.  While I wasn’t happy with him about his perspective at first, I realize I am often the same way.  I forget that so many things in life take practice.  I want to feel successful without practice, when in reality if I am going to have any success I need to practice.  Practice using patience, practice loving others when it is hard, practice exercising self-control, practice biting my tongue when something doesn’t need to be said, practice appreciating others, practicing to pray and waiting on an answer.  The opportunities come every single day- even (or maybe most especially in) my own house.  Lord, help me be willing to practice becoming who you want me to be.

 

“Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me- put it into practice.  And the God of peace will be with you.” Philippians 4:9