Character Check

“It’s my ball punk” were the words of a little boy mad because he could not have his way and because he was loosing and looked upon as inferior as others picked him last for teams, no one would pass him the ball, and he had two left feet. So his only resort was to take back what belonged to him, his ball, so no one could win if he could not win. His pride and ego were damaged as he walked home not looking back at the kids that teased him until he was no longer in earshot or eye view of the crowd of boys in the park.

We’ve all had instances in our lives where we wanted to say give me back my stuff because you are making me look bad with “my own stuff”. No one likes to be in the company of a sore looser or a gloater who goes over and beyond to let everybody know how good he is at his craft. Early on in my life, it was not an option for me and my brother to 1.) Participate in sports 2.) Go to church and 3.) Treat others the way we wanted to be treated. We had to play team sports to teach us how to be a team player and work with others. We learned we are not an island unto ourselves and in life you will not be able to do all things alone; but you will need the help of others and in turn others will help you. There were many times I would play a basketball, softball, or volleyball game and at the end of each game we (as a team) would walk in a line and hit the hand of the opposing team and say “good game” regardless of how we felt (because we lost) or even if opposing team would not touch our hands or come out to walk the line (because they lost). Now, there were times when the opposing team did not want to touch us or even say good game because they lost; our coach would not let us gloat and he would remind us of past losses and we still have the rest of the season. It felt good to win but it felt doubly awful to loose a game. This was the lesson in life being taught at an early age, that you may not win them all but how you react after loosing told a lot about your character. Even though you loose, because you will definitely not win them all, will you be like the little boy in the park and say give me my stuff/ball and I’m going home or do you show up the next day for practice ready to become a better person, a better team member, and a better overall individual. A lot of people don’t understand that loosing is apart of life, you will never win them all; but you will have the opportunity to come back to try again. The key is picking yourself up and dusting yourself off and getting up with the mind set that this is not the end, I can do better, get better, and be a better person.

This analogy that I am using about team sports is one most parents should use to raise their children along with planting a seed of God’s love within their children so long after a child has left the safety net of Mama and Daddy, not only is this team concept embedded in them but God’s seed of wisdom and love is there for that child, now grown up to reflect upon to pick themselves up, dust themselves off, maybe even dry your face from crying, and try again; with a right attitude. Remember in this thing called life as you reflect on the team concept and God’s love- people remember you by what you do and not so much what you say. Our children today are missing out on so much from days of old when it was not an option to go outside on Saturdays to play with others which is where one begins to learn the concept of being a good sport, treating others the way you would like to be treated, and have God’s seed planted in our children early in life.

Today’s days and times are so different. Many would rather give up instead of getting better, practicing, believing tomorrow will be a better day, all days will not be like today, and how you treat others is a reflection of your character. So, let’s regress a little and begin to do all the things our parents did to and for us to make us the people we are today. Thank you to my Daddy (Peter Hall, Sr.) for being my coach, my biggest fan, inspiring me in your own quirky way, and exposing me to God’s love and wisdom. Selah.
By Tina Kay Hughes www.tinakay.net

The Fight

It’s round 6 and I still have 6 more rounds left but here I am laying on the mat on my back with a mouth piece in my mouth but I can taste the blood in my mouth from the last upper cut that hit my face…I’m looking up and all I see are bright lights as this man standing over me is counting…I hear him saying 2,3,4 and I come to myself and realize I’m in the boxing ring, fighting for my life…I really can’t see straight but I crawl over to the ropes and I know I have to make it up on my feet before he gets to 10…all I here as I’m pulling myself up is the referee still counting….6,7…the crowd embraces my opponent of course, with shouts of happiness as he raises his hands with his boxing gloves above his head in a motion indicating he is the winner… however, their cheers began to quickly silence as they see me getting up on my feet and my opponent begins to roll his head around and hit his fists together as he begins to bounce up and down with a jog like he’s ready to put me on my back again….I’m up, I’m in a daze but I can see my opponent in my peripheral vision as the referee looks at my face for any cuts that would disqualify me and he asks you okay, you want call it quits, can you go on…I say I’m fine and I’m ready…the referee motions with his hand to continue fighting with 30 seconds left in this round….In my mind I’m telling myself just make it through this round by bouncing around and avoiding the ropes….My opponent comes at me with jabs like never before but my mind is so clear even though there is blood in my mouth….then I hear the bell ring…I go to my corner thinking okay I’ve made it through another round but there are 6 more to go…My coach (God) says we will never throw in the white towel because you’ve trained for this day…you have all of the techniques down, you’ve watched films on him, you know his tactics so bring them to your remembrance and don’t go back in that ring on your tip toes but do your dance and knock him on him behind…Then my trainer (Jesus) says your body may feel weak right now but we’ve trained too long for this day…keep in the forefront of your mind that you are not weak but you are strong, because through faith you are strengthened…you have all power and authority to not only knock him out but then put your foot on his neck…He gets no glory today and no other day….as I hear the bell ring and I feel all this Vaseline on my face (or the protective oil of God), I’ve been given some water and washed the blood out of my mouth but then my trainer gives me some special water (God’s living water)…to fight this fight, I’m feeling different, rejuvenated, like my body has been reset and recharged and as I stand and the stool is taken away from my corner I feel the presence of my coach and trainer behind me…they are shouting words that only I can hear through the crowd…You are more than a conqueror, I molded you and made you for this day, each step has been ordained & predestined just for you to win this fight, this is your fight to win, don’t be afraid, your opponent has no clue about the hidden weapons you’ve been given as you fight this fight in life (the helmet of salvation, the breastplate of righteousness, the belt of truth, the shield of faith, the shoes of peace, prayer and perseverance to be alert, and the sword which is the word of God)…I’m armed! I feel like a champ every jab that he lands slides off my face like water sliding off my back…He is loosing his steam as I am gaining mine…he begins to go down only to get back up time and time again…I remember my coach telling me that his promoter asked for me by name I began to think and my promoter said you can fight her but you can’t touch her soul it’s been bought and paid for…here it is the 12th round and just like in Revelations my opponent goes down with my left upper cut (that he was not expecting), and my right crossover…he’s down for the count not moving and the referee counts him out at 10….the 12th round I have a technical knock out over my enemy…I wanted it to come sooner but I have the best team in my corner…this fight is much like this thing we call life…we go round for round, not knowing that God has fully prepared you with love, joy, morals, truth, faithfulness, goodness, self control, kindness, peace, patience, and knowledge to win these fights we have to fight in life….God is coaching us everyday and Jesus is training us while the Holy Spirit whispers to you the encouraging words you need to hear to fight another fight, to win another battle, to know that you have the best team in your corner of any ring you are placed in to fight for your very life sometimes…Just know it’s not time to throw in the towel, it’s time to lace up, wrap up, put on all your armor and fight another fight each day…you are going to win as long as you believe and have faith…He’s coming for you because for every new level there are new devils waiting to take you down…so don’t be in the process of getting ready but stay ready cause the enemy is not going to fight fair…You got everything you need and more…let’s take it to the ring because this fight is yours for the taking….
By Tina Kay Hughes, author of “TKay’s Inspirationals: Walking In Your Season” www.tinakay.net

A Work In Progress

We wake up every morning with this “to do list”…not even enjoying those last few minutes in bed to get in a peaceful place (through meditation), to hold the one you love laying next to you, to just catch your breath or even put your feet straight up in the air on your head board to allow the blood to move and circulate from one part of the body to another….The “to do list” takes precedence over every thing that will allow your day to start off on a good and right foot or some may say on the right side of the bed…We loose ourselves in these “to do lists” we create for ourselves that have us all flustered before the day even starts…We allow the “to do’s” to run our lives instead of being a constant work in progress, where we are not trying to do it all, be it all, and have it all…at least not all at the same time….

A work in process means just that, throughout life you will work towards your goals and dreams and sometimes the road will get a little bumpy, but we still work at this thing called life…slow down enjoy the scenery, smell the air, taste the goodness of life, listen to the silence….all these things have the ability to bring you back to the middle to be that, work in progress….

A work in progress is who we are, however, some don’t believe this…but we will never arrive, we will never be all that we dream to be, we will never conquer the world because this is how God set life up in such a way that you are not really whole until you meet Him face to face….I am not belittling what anyone does for a living or as a hobby, but a work in progress is actually a good thing where you are allowed to see your accomplishments step by step, because nothing is created or done overnight….it will actually allow you to possibly see something you’ve accomplished but there is always more to do, say, work on and work out….God will always have you come back to the middle where you can see for yourself that He is still and always working on you while you are in this thing called life….We, believe it or not, are His work in process…As of late, I love to talk about you can do it the easy way by riding the tide of life that God has you on…or do it the hard way by going against the tide of life rejecting what God would have you do….either way you are the work in progress that will never end or never stop….So why not enjoy being a work in progress along the way….each day starting anew and fresh by taking a few moments that are just for you before rising, this will allow you to get your head right before that little never ending “to do list” that we all have kicks in each day….we all are a work in progress, enjoy the ride and find peace in being a work in progress…..
By Tina Hughes, Author of “TKay’s Inspirationals: Walking In Your Season”
www.tinakay.net