Letter to my grandson about Tim Tebow

Please consider reading this blog to your sons or grandsons who play sport. And forward it to someone you know who might want to do the same thing. Tim Tebow is a wonderful role model for children and teenagers who play sport. This letter is about the benefit of a good role model in a child’s upbringing.

Dear Jaden,
Although you are only 10 years old, you have the makings of a top player of football and basketball. I have watched you play, and I have played with you. As well as your natural skills and determination, you have the perception to know where the other players are. You also have leadership, the gift that will sometimes enable you to boost your teammates and steer them to a win.

Jaden, I don’t know if you watched the Denver Broncos play today, but even if you did I’d like to point out a few things about that game that may help you in your sport and in your life. The Broncos in their first finals series since 2005 played the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Steelers are a finals-hardened team and would be hard to beat. Denver had lost their last three games, when their QB Tim Tebow had played poorly and received a lot of criticism (see my earlier blogs about his previous successes

Pittsburgh led 6-0 after the first quarter, and Denver looked a bit lost. This was especially discouraging because in the past 10 games, the second quarter has been their worst quarter. Today was different. Tebow pulled the trigger, and launched a few spectacular bombs downfield, and most of them were caught. He himself ran in for one TD. As a result the score was 23-6 at half-time. No-one would have predicted this!

After half-time, the hardened Steelers came back, with their expected resilience (especially their tough QB Roethlisberger who had an ankle injury). Their best running back fumbled and turned the ball over. The Steelers QB threw several spectacular passes. And shortly afterwards Denver’s best defender dropped a sitter which would have been a turnover. At the end of regulation time, the score was tied at 23-23, and Denver had not scored since half-time! It didn’t look good!

Jaden, near the end of regulation, I actually bowed my head and prayed that God would produce a miracle that would allow Denver to win, because Tebow is such a good witness to the tens of millions that were watching this game. I suspect many other Christians were praying likewise.

In the middle of a screaming stadium, Denver won the toss, and received the ball. On the very first play, the Steelers defence made a mistake, and allowed wide receiver Demarius Thomas to get a few yards ahead. Tebow hit him in stride with a long throw, and the receiver kept running. As a Steelers defender cut across his path, Thomas stiff-armed him, and shook him off, then ran all the way to the end zone. Touchdown! An 80-yard score! Denver wins the game! It looked like a miracle to me!

Tebow threw the ball for 316 yards, and ran for 50 yards in an amazing performance. His passer rating of 125.6 was the highest in Broncos post-season history. Demarius Thomas caught 4 throws for a total of 200 yards (that’s an unheard of 50 yards per catch). At the finish, the Bronco players, and their fans were jumping up and down and cheering wildly. But while this was going on, Tebow knelt on one knee for a brief moment and gave thanks to God.

Jaden that’s the first learning….try always to give thanks to God for your sporting successes, which will be many. #1.

When he is interviewed, Tim Tebow makes sure he gives thanks to the other team players, and his coaches. He doesn’t praise himself. During the game he praises his fellow team players when they do good stuff, and encourages other players when the team is down. That’s #2 for you.

On the personal level, Tebow does not swear, does not take drugs, does not get drunk, and is a virgin. #3.

He tells anyone who wants to know that Jesus Christ is his personal savior and Lord. #4.

And he wants always to learn and improve his game, and seeks wisdom from other people and from God. #5.

Also, he wants to use his influence to help other people in need. To help someone to hope. He raises money to build a hospital in the Philippines (part of a missionary project). #6.

Tim is all these things, and he does all these things, and he is a hero in Denver right now. He is very COOL! #7.

As you progress though school and college, you will encounter drugs and heavy drinking and sex. Some of your buddies will try to get you into that stuff. Be strong, like Tim Tebow, and tell them you don’t have to do that stuff to be cool. Stand up and have the guts to be a true leader, and not a follower. You will find out that others will follow you. Feed the white dog, not the black dog.

Love you and pray for you,
Popper Ian

The Gray Nomad.
Probing the practice of Christian believers….