Something Is Wrong Here

I have two athletic training friends. Both are named Amy. One Amy lives and works in the NC mountains. The other Amy lives and works in Missouri. On Saturday morning, I received the following message from Missouri:

I’m at a wrestling tournament and there’s a little boy that just knocked his knee on the floor and it scared him and now his dad is in the hallway fussing at him and told him he cried like a girl and it was embarrassing. He keeps telling him he’s shameful and that he has better things to do than waste his time on him crying. If only he know how long that kid is going to remember those words . I don’t know who has made society think it’s not okay for boys and men to cry and show emotion. It’s a God-given emotion and sometimes just has to happen. These are little boys. They are wrestling for fun right now…

Later that day, I went to one of my nephew’s basketball games and watched as one of the coaches from the opposing team acted as if the boys were playing professional ball. He argued with the referees, directed mean comments at my nephew’s coach, got angry when his son messed up, and was very unhappy when his team lost. His son acted the same way—getting overly mad at himself when things didn’t go his way…

A few weeks ago, a friend shared a story about finding herself surrounded by a fight at her daughter’s basketball game. One parent commented on another parent’s language so another parent decided to physically attack…

I don’t know about you, but something is wrong here.

I’m not exactly sure how to rectify what’s gone wrong.

Society has changed too much to go back to the days of neighborhood ball on hand-painted goals.

But I do know that something needs to change and that
All the little boys who are knocked down and scared,
Being fussed at by dads holding unrealistic expectations, and that
All the little boys who are stifling their tears,
Being poisoned by shame that will plague them for life, and that
All the grown men who are yelling in anger,
Trying to make their sons into the image they will never be, and that
All the grown women who are shouting in frustration,
Hurling harsh words meant to cut others down, are
Loved, they are loved, they are worthy to be
Loved, and it is up to you and
up to me to somehow tell them so.

God. Help us. Please.
Amen.