The Game Of Compassion - Shaun Groves

The boys from across the street, the cousins from one cul-de-sac over, come over to play football with my son in our front yard. I’m all-time quarterback.

The ball is hiked, I step back scanning the fescue for open receivers. I find one. Nathaniel. He’s a small eight, stealthy, and has snuck past his older brother Phillip to the corner of the end zone where he jumps with arms up and an urgent look on his face.

The ball travels in a high arc from my hand to the far side of the yard. It’s caught. The team celebrates. I’m high-fived by a five year-old who compares me to Ben Roethlisberger.

Nathaniel is crumpled in the grass. Legs drawn up under him.

The field falls silent. Boys gather around the fallen hero. Nathaniel is sobbing. Face down on the ball

My son stoops beside him with the others. Reaches for Nathaniel’s hand.

“Don’t get the ball wet,” he says, taking it from underneath Nathaniel, wiping tears from it with his Steelers jersey.

Compassion is a game of priorities: Often, people versus possessions.

Game on May 29-June 4. Watch it at compassionbloggers.com/philippines.

Promote with one of these. (Thank you.)

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37 comments on “The Game Of Compassion”

JessicaB says:

Excited. 🙂

Also, in paragraph 2, I totally thought you were scanning the feces for a second there.

May 26, 2011 at 10:54 am

Shaun Groves says:

Congratulations on being first. ; )

I was getting worried about you.

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- May 26, 2011 at 12:03 pm
  
  JessicaB says:
  
  Thanks. I was much too humble to rub it in. 😉

elizabeth Leonard says:

I read is as “feces,” too. Guess it’s time to learn to read!

God bless yall on this awesome trip. May meet, guide, and carry yall!

May 27, 2011 at 3:05 pm

Princess Leia says:

I think I read “rescue” and that just made no sense at all! But it’s been more than a minute since I read it, so my goldfish of a brain isn’t sure anymore. I know I had to re-read that sentence due to that word though!

(changing my profile pic presently!)

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Angie says:

Don’t let the ball get wet. . .Priceless!

Praying for you all as you prepare to go.
And yeah for me, I finally got a button on my blog!

Rick Orrell says:

I know the difference between feces and fescue…… 🙂 Great post!

Kelli says:

I love the way little boys think. It just makes me smile. 🙂

Really great post. I can’t wait to read your stories from across the ocean!

Carolinamama says:

Shaun! This is poignant! BoulderMtMan and I are still on a spiritual high from our time at The Cove and your Concert. And the laughs! We are following and praying you all through! God Bless!

Jill Foley says:

I’m really looking forward to reading about your experiences on this trip.

On my blog Compassion Family, I’ve been writing “country expert” posts – a compilation of resources for families to learn more about the country their sponsored child is from. I’m doing my research on the Philippines now, so I can have this post available during the trip. My hope and prayer is that current and new sponsors will find it helpful in their sponsorship experience.

Cathy says:

Wow. When I read that line, “Compassion is a game of priorities: Often, people versus possessions.” my heart stopped. I read it several times and then posted it on fb. Good stuff Shaun. Praying for you guys.