I can still remember when my coaches handed out uniforms to those of us who had made the cut. We were all so proud to be wearing our school’s colors. The best part was being able to wear our jerseys to school on game days. Being identified as part of the team somehow made each one of us walk a little taller.

And now I have the blessing of seeing my young sons experience that same thrill of putting on their uniforms and being part of a team. When they put on their jerseys, they seem to grow in confidence, as if they are truly part of something special.

For individuals striving to live with integrity, honesty is always the best policy. But some will argue that oftentimes it’s better to say nothing rather than allow the harsh truth to be spoken. Shaun Alexander is one of those people who err on the side of caution when it comes to the words he speaks.

But that wasn’t always the case for the Seattle Seahawks’ running back. In fact, it wasn’t long ago that Alexander would answer every media question with brutal honesty, no matter what kind of fallout his response might cause.

Have you ever disagreed with your coach’s game strategy or played with a teammate with whom you didn’t see eye to eye? Have you ever competed against an opponent who made you really angry? As athletes, we come into contact with a lot of people: coaches, teammates, opponents, referees, and fans; and we’re not always going to agree with them.

"Not Too Young." It’s the theme we pull from this verse in 1 Timothy in which Paul speaks to young Timothy. Do you know that it is a lie we sometimes buy into that we are too young to make a difference? But we need to realize that many young people in the Bible did amazing things for God. Little David defeated Goliath. King Josiah, at the age of 7, made a difference in Israel. And don't forget about the young boy who had two fish and five loaves.
 
The young man with the fish and bread in particular gives an interesting example. This boy who had very little made a huge impact when he gave what he had to Jesus. He didn't have much, but Jesus took what he had and fed 5,000 people with it!