Proud Parents and Grandparents

Yes, in my family there were proud parents and grandparents when our granddaughter was named high school softball player of the year for 2008 in a Metro East local newspaper. But the news articles and other accolades do not relate the essential ingredients of what makes this an accomplishment. Oh, they speak of talent, starting at an early age, good (even excellent?) coaching and so on. One makes mention of her dependence on, and "support" of her father. Still another quotes incredible statistics for the past year with respect to strikeouts and ERA (she is a pitcher). But those are not the real reason, which is:

      HARD WORK

…years of hard work. Hard, hard work does NOT come naturally to a youngster. It comes from parenting, or parental figures, in obedience to the Scriptures. It involves patience, endurance, continual reprimands for disobedience (Proverbs 22:15), and great quantities of encouragement and support in daily tasks, as well as planning for the future. She has been contacted by several colleges, although only a junior. Most are simultaneously pleased that she is an honor roll student, perhaps even becoming eligible for an academic scholarship. This is the source of meaning in all this:

And thou shalt teach them ..., and shalt show them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do.

Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.
He also who is slack in his work
Is brother to him who destroys.

Do you see a man skilled in his work?
He will stand before kings;
He will not stand before obscure men.

The desire of the sluggard puts him to death,
For his hands refuse to work;

For even when we were with you, we used to give you this order: if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either.

Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men,

...so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;

...and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands, just as we commanded you,

Does this make sense?