Love in Teamwork

Love in teamwork? I can imagine many folks don't really think about love when they think of teamwork. That may be because we usually only think of teams in the context of sports. And sports is all about competition and winning, right? If you’ve watched football lately it isn’t.

Last week when Damar Hamlin had a heart attack on the field and CPR was administered to him, we saw love at work. I think everyone on the field was in prayer that night. Through those prayers, the sports world saw love in action. I am extremely grateful for Damar’s steady improvement.

I watched ‘You Tube’ with Robert yesterday. There were a group of guys who all specialize in different areas of automobile work. Each one had their own you tube channels. One guy asked the others to join him in taking a junk heap of a car and get it running in three days.

More went on than just working on that car. Before this project, the men didn’t know each other very well. By the end of three long days of work one could see the close bond they developed.

I don’t necessarily like watching shows about fixing cars, but I liked seeing these guys become close friends. One reason it probably went so well is that they were efficient, confident, and successful in their own area of expertise, so they respected one another.

This is not always so in a regular work situation. For various reasons, circumstances are seldom as ideal as the show I watched. People have their own ambitions and may end up jockeying for position. Some may take credit for all the work when they barely did any.

Still as Christians, we must remember who we represent. The Bible tells us everything we do must be done “in the name of the Lord Jesus giving thanks to God the Father through Him” Colossians 3:17.

Notice some important words: everything. Not just one thing, one time – but everything, all the time.

In the name of the Lord Jesus. Not in our name, for our glory – in His name, for His glory.

And thirdly, giving thanks to God. Keep a good attitude. Don’t complain or whine about your work, instead thank Him for the opportunity.

We are commanded to do our work well and to work well with others. Many times, this is not an easy task, but that is where the love comes in.

With God’s help we remember to treat others as Christ would. We learn to see others through His eyes, not our own. In doing so, we set a great example for others.

Vince Lombardi once said: "Individual commitment to a group effort -- that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work."

We must be individually committed to do our best work – both with others and on our own.

Christ above all things - Robin

Annie Over!

When we were younger kids, we lived in a great neighborhood in Jackson, MS.  We always had plenty of friends to play with.  But it wasn’t like that when we came to visit Dad’s parents in northeast Mississippi. 

They lived on a farm out in the country and there were no other kids around.  We had to find other ways to entertain ourselves.  That was OK though, because we had good imaginations and just liked to play outside anyway. 

Besides that, Grandma taught us a couple of games that were fun to play.  One of them was Annie Over.  Have you ever heard of it?  I always thought it was something Grandma just made up, but I checked it out on the internet and according to some sources, this game dates all the way back to the mid 1800’s. 

It was an easy game, but it kept Todd and I busy for a little while.  Grandpa and Grandma had a well house that brought water from the ground and up to a faucet outside.  They didn’t have running water in the house.  Anyway, the wellhouse was small enough that we could throw a ball over it to the other side. 

In the game, the one who had the ball would yell out “Annie Over” and throw the ball over the house.  The person on the other side would catch the ball and run around the house to try to catch the one who threw it.  Oh wow!  I don’t remember all the rules exactly.  I just remember throwing the ball and running around chasing each other. 

The laughter too.  I remember the laughter.  We laughed chasing each other, but my Grandmother always laughed when we played.  Oh how she loved to see us have a good time!  It always made me feel good to see her laugh. 

I think God likes to see his children have a good time too, don’t you?  Our life is so full of work and taking care of our families and paying bills and.. and .. and.  The list goes on, but the point is made.  Sometimes we forget to relax and enjoy ourselves. 

When I think about this topic, I often think of what Christ said in John 10:10.  “ The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” 

I absolutely love that passage!  It shows us God does want us to have a full, rich life here on earth.  An abundant life means taking pleasure in all the things God gives us to enjoy.   

He created the family unit, when he created Adam and Eve.  A husband and wife are to love and cherish one another.  The children God gives are truly a gift!  Our little ones giggle at the simplest of pleasures.  There is no greater joy for a mother than to hear her child laugh. 

Knowing all this, how could we ever think God doesn’t want us to have fun from time to time?

Proverbs 17:22 – “A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.”  Please don’t let anyone steal your joy. 

I love you, but God loves you more!

Christ above all things - Robin