Today I want to share a lesson of God’s love through a childhood story about consequences and grace.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
— John 3:16
God loves you and me more than we can wrap our minds around, and He’s made the way to Him simple: believe in Jesus, the One who spoke the universe into existence.
Another verse puts it this way. This is genuine love—not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.—1 John 4:10.
God loved us before we ever loved Him… before we did a single good thing… Before we were even born, God had a plan in motion to make us His children. How? He sent Jesus to die on a cross—and then raised Him from the dead three days later, breaking the power of death and the devil once and for all.
It’s an incredible story. Some people won’t believe it, but honestly—would you expect anything ordinary from the Almighty God of the universe?
Norman and I were in fourth grade. Dirty snow piles dotted the playground behind the school as Spring’s fickle weather melted them away. The turf looked inviting—dark green with fresh growth—but underneath a craggy mire of thawing soil waited to suck in an unsuspecting soul.
This was soccer season, and every recess, regardless of temperature, we were kicking balls around. I was the goalie. Being the biggest, I blocked most of the goal without having to move much. I liked being big. Besides, who would want to be a scrawny little, well… like Norman?
Our principal, Mr. Laider, thought of himself as Mr. Athlete. I guess he played minor league baseball somewhere. So, he came out and played with us on nicer days. He was one of those slim, wiry guys, and he could kick the heck out of a soccer ball.
During the game, the ball sailed down the field and landed just inside the goalie’s box. I rushed out to get it as Mr. Laider charged the goal, hoping to get the rebound and kick it past me for a score.
Well, I wasn’t about to let Mr. Laider get the best of me. Normally, the goalie would pick up the ball and end the onslaught. But not me. That ball was just waiting there, daring me to kick it. Laider was ten yards out, running full speed with a nasty look in his eye—I’ve got you now, Schmidt.
I took two steps, swung my enormous leg through it as hard as I could, launching the ball off my foot at supersonic speed. By chance, its trajectory was aimed straight at Mr. Laider’s head. With a loud thwack, the ball struck him full-on in the face, lifting him off his feet, and knocking him back ten feet. Blood and gore gushed from his nose as he lay there not moving.
I stood there dumbfounded, stunned by the scene before me. Norman ran up. “Holy sh_t. Look what you did? Man, that was cool.” Norman couldn’t control himself until Laider sat up with the look of Satan himself in his eyes. With one glance, Norman took off for the school as fast as his little legs would carry him. “I’ll get some help…” he hollered on his way in.
Mr. Laider stood up—blood running down his face—pulled a handkerchief from his pocket to stem its flow. Before turning and marching off the field, he growled, “This isn’t the end of this, Schmidt.”
Hey, what did I do? We were all playing soccer. It was an accident, wasn’t It? But the little devil inside my head wasn’t apologetic. After he left, everyone on the field started laughing and patting me on the back. I didn’t mind the praise one bit.
Well, I didn’t get a spanking this time, but the punishment was far worse. Laider said I was a freak of nature—it was unsafe for me to play with kids my own age. Hey, I never hurt any of them, at least not on purpose.
But from that day on, I had to play with the seventh and eighth graders at recess. I couldn’t hang out with my own friends. This was the first time I was separated from my little buddy, Norman. It hurt.
Sometimes the lessons we remember most are the ones that came with consequences.
Hello! My name is Paul Schmidt. As an author working on my debut novel, The Awakening, this blog is my space to connect with readers, share my writing journey, and explore contemporary Christian fiction for adults and young adults. You’ll also find devotionals, articles, and reflections on faith, hope, and transformation.
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