Everything You Got, Kid
In just a few short days, my family and I will be remembering when one year ago, we found out that my father's stomach pains were more serious than acid reflux. In just a few short days, we will remember how immediately grim the picture got, as the stomach cancer was far advanced. In a few weeks from now though, we will celebrate my father's first eternal birthday, as he came to know the Lord on August 2, 2006, and a few weeks after that, on August 22, we will celebrate one year from when my father went to see his savior face to face.
I think about my dad often, in case you didn't know. There aren't many parts of my life today that I can't take back in time, and relate to something he taught me or made a ridiculous joke about (Most of the time it relates to a joke). But with these upcoming dates looming in my head, I have spent more time recently in thought about my dad and our relationship than many of the other days this past year.
I spent some time in retrospect the other day, and began to think about my days as a high school football player (Cue "Glory Days" in the background). My dad was my biggest football fan. No offense to all the rest of my family and friends, but really, they could have cared less how I succeeded in football as long as I was progressing in life. My dad, though, cared about high school football as a key part in the progression of life. In my Junior year, we, the McKinney Lions, were slated to play the Lewisville (it kills me to write this) Fighting Farmers. They were perennial powerhouses and were ranked #2 in the state. We were new to the division and were not looked upon as highly. It was the game of my life, up to that point.
I remember walking out towards the field when my dad came and got me before I stepped across the track and to the sideline. I remember vividly the words he said to me:
"Everything you got, kid. Put everything you got out between those sidelines. From the tears you'll cry at the end of the game, to the energy it takes to open your eyes and cry'em, put everything you got on the field. I may be an old man, but I'm still strong enough to carry you home."
Now, my dad was a kook. He was quite the interesting guy with a hilarious sense of humor that he, himself didn't always "get." But in that moment, on that sideline, my father gave me a piece of wisdom and advice so profound that even he didn't know how impactful it would be. You see, I've got another Father who makes the same statement. Jesus Christ speaks it as the last part of the greatest commandment:
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength." - Mark 12:30
Strength is the power potential of a living being, and we're called as followers of Christ to exhaust that entire potential, to empty our entire tank into loving our creator and redeemer. I want you to put yourselves on the sideline of my junior year football team, and envision God himself taking you by the arm and unleashing you on the world with one statement:
"Give it all you got, Kid. Lay it all out there in the space between. I'm God, and I'm strong enough to carry you home."
As we live our lives, we cannot simply get from one day to the next, hoping that God's work will be done. We must be actively preaching, teaching, and evangelizing in the same way Timothy was called (2 Tim 1:6-12). Like him, we must be stirring up our gifts daily and keeping them on fire for the One and Only God. We must be so pumped up about serving God that by day, we're at 150 mph in life and by night, we're so tired that our sleep is deeper than the deepest ocean. We should be so into giving it up for God, that there will be nights we won't know how we'll have the energy to get back home. But remember, he'll carry us home. He'll carry us home alright. He delivers us from daily evils as we are able to find rest in Him and his Word. And beyond our daily rest, one day, maybe on the day we exhaust that last bit of strength from our lives, we'll be carried HOME, to where Bob Morton is, to gaze upon the face of our maker.
Giving it all I got,
Bob
I think about my dad often, in case you didn't know. There aren't many parts of my life today that I can't take back in time, and relate to something he taught me or made a ridiculous joke about (Most of the time it relates to a joke). But with these upcoming dates looming in my head, I have spent more time recently in thought about my dad and our relationship than many of the other days this past year.
I spent some time in retrospect the other day, and began to think about my days as a high school football player (Cue "Glory Days" in the background). My dad was my biggest football fan. No offense to all the rest of my family and friends, but really, they could have cared less how I succeeded in football as long as I was progressing in life. My dad, though, cared about high school football as a key part in the progression of life. In my Junior year, we, the McKinney Lions, were slated to play the Lewisville (it kills me to write this) Fighting Farmers. They were perennial powerhouses and were ranked #2 in the state. We were new to the division and were not looked upon as highly. It was the game of my life, up to that point.
I remember walking out towards the field when my dad came and got me before I stepped across the track and to the sideline. I remember vividly the words he said to me:
"Everything you got, kid. Put everything you got out between those sidelines. From the tears you'll cry at the end of the game, to the energy it takes to open your eyes and cry'em, put everything you got on the field. I may be an old man, but I'm still strong enough to carry you home."
Now, my dad was a kook. He was quite the interesting guy with a hilarious sense of humor that he, himself didn't always "get." But in that moment, on that sideline, my father gave me a piece of wisdom and advice so profound that even he didn't know how impactful it would be. You see, I've got another Father who makes the same statement. Jesus Christ speaks it as the last part of the greatest commandment:
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength." - Mark 12:30
Strength is the power potential of a living being, and we're called as followers of Christ to exhaust that entire potential, to empty our entire tank into loving our creator and redeemer. I want you to put yourselves on the sideline of my junior year football team, and envision God himself taking you by the arm and unleashing you on the world with one statement:
"Give it all you got, Kid. Lay it all out there in the space between. I'm God, and I'm strong enough to carry you home."
As we live our lives, we cannot simply get from one day to the next, hoping that God's work will be done. We must be actively preaching, teaching, and evangelizing in the same way Timothy was called (2 Tim 1:6-12). Like him, we must be stirring up our gifts daily and keeping them on fire for the One and Only God. We must be so pumped up about serving God that by day, we're at 150 mph in life and by night, we're so tired that our sleep is deeper than the deepest ocean. We should be so into giving it up for God, that there will be nights we won't know how we'll have the energy to get back home. But remember, he'll carry us home. He'll carry us home alright. He delivers us from daily evils as we are able to find rest in Him and his Word. And beyond our daily rest, one day, maybe on the day we exhaust that last bit of strength from our lives, we'll be carried HOME, to where Bob Morton is, to gaze upon the face of our maker.
Giving it all I got,
Bob
I cried. Your dad was, indeed, a bit of a kook, but we loved him bunches. What wisdom! You were blessed before you knew it, Bob, that your Heavenly Father chose Robert Clark Morton to be His earthly representative of fatherhood for you. Profound....
BTW-we love ya!
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Bob, This one brought tears to my eyes and a tug at my heart. Keep up the good work.
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This message was too good for no one to comment on it Bobby. I enjoyed listening to it, it was challenging and practical for everyday life. Looking forward to hearing many more like it bro.
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