Learning to Say Thank You

Jordan posed with a picture of Blake

We are an active family. There is dance and sports and piano and travel and all kinds of little things in between. I rarely stop and think how our family might look to others watching. The families we see each week who also attend dance class. Or the families attending a sports practice or game. Even the family walking down the aisle at the grocery store.

I don’t think about it because years ago I made a decision to stop caring about people who stare and when I made that decision, I guess I gave myself permission to stop worrying or thinking about what others think about me or my family in any situation. It’s a mindset that keeps me from worrying. But I realize it has also made me a bit blind.

Let me explain. Earlier this week, the kids attended awards ceremonies for their basketball season. They both had an incredible time. This was Cameron’s first and only season (he aged out of the program) and Jordan’s first as well. Neither of them were the best player, but they were both awesome teammates. They cheered on the other players, they didn’t hog the ball, and they were awesome defenders on the court. They both played with passion and learned a lot in the process. During Jordan’s awards ceremony, she was given the equivalent of Most Valuable Player award for her age division. It came with a committee voting on nominations that included her name. I didn’t submit a nomination, so that means someone else did. Wow.

But what was really remarkable was how the family of Blake Merson wanted to honor Jordan in his name. You see, Blake died after battling cancer and complications from cancer treatment for almost his entire ten years of life. He loved playing basketball even if it wasn’t the easiest thing to do. After he died, his parents started a yearly award in his name to celebrate kids who play basketball through challenges. What an honor.

My first reaction to both of these awards was to be dismissive. Jordan is just being Jordan. She plays because she wants to play and even if it isn’t the easiest, she is just out on the court to have fun. But I took a few moments with the help of conversations with a few friends to help me realize the perspective our family brings to others. Not to mention, both of my kids are kind teammates. They play hard, they are kind people. One hand or two hands, we should celebrate.

I should take a moment to step back and be thankful for these awards. I should join everyone in celebrating Jordan for her awesome attitude as a teammate and as an individual athlete. She never complains. She just tries hard. She is inspiring other kids and adults to try harder. Jordan just being Jordan can be inspiring. So thank you to everyone who is so supportive, caring and recognize Jordan for being a good kid. She is certainly  not perfect, but when I step back, I see why she deserves these special honors. It’s an honor.

(By the way, this isn’t the first time Jordan has won a special inspiration award. It also isn’t the first time I’ve struggled with the word “inspiration.”)