God's Coaching #208

God's Coaching #208

Pedro Barros entered X Games 16 as a virtual unknown. He left Los Angeles as an X Games gold medalist. The 15-year-old from Brazil showed a dizzying array of tricks and endless energy to win Skateboard Park. With the victory, Pedro became the first athlete who hadn’t been born when the X Games first began to win gold.

Heading into the finals, Pedro knew he’d have to beat X Games veteran Andy Macdonald. Andy, who was 37, had won 20 X Games medals over the years. In the finals, Pedro pulled ahead by landing several 540s, flying over small and large gaps, and executing a low-to-high frontside smith grind on the biggest wall of the course. Pedro varied his runs and looked for different ways to showcase his talents on the curvy gray-and-red course in downtown LA. Andy didn’t show as much creativity and fell on his fifth run. Pedro’s final score of 86 proved to be five points better than Andy’s 81.

What’s the Score?

Pedro brought a lot of energy to the 2010 X Games. He had qualified for the finals of Skateboard Big Air but failed to medal. However, Pedro made the most of his opportunity in Skateboard Park. The excitement he showed made him an immediate crowd favorite as he walked away with the gold.

The Bible says everybody is judged by his or her actions. If you want to have a good reputation, be honorable in the way you act and treat others. King Solomon wrote, “Even children are known by the way they act, whether their conduct is pure, and whether it is right” (Proverbs 20:11). Your parents, teachers, and other adults will notice when you do the right thing. Try your best to represent Jesus in everything you say and do. As you consistently live out your Christian beliefs, people will become fans of yours, too.

On the Ball

What kind of reputation do you have? When your conduct is pure and you do the right thing, people will know you as a good person. And as one of God’s children, that’s exactly the reputation you want to have. Write down three words you want people to use when they describe you.

Coach’s Comment

Even children are known by the way they act, whether their conduct is pure, and whether it is right. Proverbs 20:11