Julie schooled me in basketball...and life last night.

To set the scene, the SCHEF Lady Lions were playing a team from Houma last night. Julie's team is young and inexperienced and were up against some girls who were several years ahead. Julie had played lights-out basketball already scoring a career-high 24 points. 
With five minutes left in the game, the Houma team was leading by about 30 points.  Julie seemed to be playing four corners by the way she kept passing the ball and not taking anymore shots. We weren't scoring anymore AND turning the ball over. I knew if she would just shoot, she'd score but that's not what happened. In a time-out, I told her she was wide open and should take the shot. That's when she rang the school bell and proceeded to let me know that class was now in session. 
Her response went something like this. "Dad, we're not going to win. I want to give them (her teammates) a chance to score so I'm setting them up. It'll be good for their experience."
I was all about her taking advantage of scoring opportunities and she was all about letting her teammates gain valuable experience. She showed me that this is not just a game, but a place where we put our character to the test. Her attitude on the court, even when getting hammered by the opponent, is nothing short of true sportsmanship.  One of her teammates did score a basket. After the game, her teammate was so happy and Julie pointed that out to me. It's all about spreading the love around.
Does she want to win? Yes. Is she aggressive? Yes. Is she self-absorbed in getting all she can at the expense of her team? Absolutely not. In fact, more than winning, Julie just wants to play.  
I'm so proud of her and would take a whole team of girls just like her. Nothing would stop them...but then again, I think Julie would say that that's not the most important thing.

Philippians 2:3  says, "Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves."